Chester-le-Street, in second place in the Dukes North-East ECB Regional Premier League, welcome Tynemouth in fifth, to Ropery Lane.

They are 37 points behind leaders South North, so they need to finish the season strongly to have any chance of the title. Stephen Cantwell is unavailable, but Liam Burgess returns.

Skipper John Coxon said: “I am really pleased with how well we have been playing recently. Kyle Davis and George Harrison have started off our innings superbly and I’m hoping that will continue, as well as the fine form that our bowlers are showing at present.

“Tynemouth are in good form, so will need to play well to beat them. Every game is a ‘must win’ now, so we will be going hard for that win.”

Hetton Lyons in third, welcome the Durham Cricket Academy and visiting Director of Cricket, John Windows said: “It will probably be the same side as last week, mainly due to the present incumbents who are all doing what they are selected to do. Form and confidence are growing as all are doing so well. It will, of course, be a tough match at Hetton, but more of the same will do nicely and should provide a platform for more success.”

Second-bottom Eppleton, are at home to Benwell Hill and just 16 points above Sacriston, as the fight goes on against relegation.

At this stage of the season with eight games left, it could come down to these two clubs, as to who is relegated. The Church Road outfit need to make home advantage count against a strong Benwell Hill side.

Bottom club Sacriston host Stockton. Director of Cricket, Iain Bestford said: “The team is again unchanged, Graeme Bridge is still out, as well as the missing long-term casualties. Need to be on our mettle, particularly the batting section who must start to put much bigger totals on the board, as Stockton have themselves run into good form and are a couple of wins above us in the table.”

In the Northumberland and Tyneside Cricket League, Shotley Bridge have dropped to second after losing their last two league games. They travel to Newcastle City, who are in sixth position.

Lanchester take on Tynedale and visiting skipper Tom Cant said: “We have a few missing this weekend as Callan McCabe is on holiday, Paul Newton is injured, as is Sam Mannion, whilst David Newton is unavailable. Lanchester is always a good match and will again prove to be a close encounter.”

In Division Two, Leadgate, in second, journey to Bates Cottages without captain Gary Innes who is unavailable due to injury, so Robbie Hockaday will step up to be captain for the next few weeks.

Leaders in the Readers Durham Cricket League, Easington travel to bottom club Mainsforth. Secretary Peter Booth said: “Jason Moses and Jordan Wilson will be missing from the team this weekend. We hope to keep up our good run of form and increase our lead at the top.”

Mainsforth chairman Tony Johns said: “We’ve had two good results recently and need to build on that and we had a good draw last Saturday. Things are looking up and we need to keep going.”

Crook, in second place, journey to Marsden and secretary Alan Stewart said: “Josh Holmes is still out injured, and he is expected to be missing for a few weeks with a back injury. Hopefully David Embleton, who played last Saturday with a knee injury and scored highly, should be okay to play, but he will be unlikely to be able to bowl at full pace. The rest of the team should be unchanged.

“We need to keep on going, we’re the only club that qualify for promotion now, due to the criteria and we are due to be inspected.

“We hope to carry on winning as much as we can. Marsden were promoted with us last year and are a decent team, so it should be a good game.”

Tudhoe, in fourth, travel to Seaham Park in fifth, with an unchanged team. Chairman Stephen Thexton said: “It’s always a good competitive game against Seaham and we are looking forward to it.”

Seaham Park first team vice-captain Michael McNicholas is missing along with John Sample, as well as Umar and Shoaib Akhtar. Stepping in will be Bradley Robinson, David Lowes, Chris Allan, and Anthony Moorhead.

McNicholas said: The league is pretty much over now, so we’ll just try to win each game and finish as high as we possibly can.”

Horden welcome Bill Quay and visiting secretary Chris Little said: “Mick Orridge returns from his holiday and replaces Liam Brophy. We need to get back to winning ways after a bad run of form, and hopefully we’ll take some points at Horden.”

In Division Two, Evenwood travel to Boldon CA and secretary Luke Bannister said: “The two Teesdale’s are back in the squad this weekend, while Andy Rowell is away. It’ll be a tricky game, we’ll try and win it, but we’ll have to see how it goes, as we don’t know what Boldon CA’s pitch is like.”

Dawdon are fifth and they welcome Hylton. Chairman Gordon Veitch said: “We have done pretty well this season and in general lost to the top four teams, which hasn’t been too good for our promotion prospects. However, we will carry on trying and the juniors are doing well at the club, with the club in general looking healthy.”

Peterlee travel to Ryhope in third spot, and home Secretary Alan Mason said: “Skipper Chris Errington is unavailable, so Paul Jenkin deputises.

“James Summerside is out and is replaced by Jake Liddle and Johnny Hayes is back in. This season we have lost a few games we should have won, but if you told me that we would be third and still challenging for promotion, at this stage of the season, I would have taken it!”