A week is a long time in cricket, and nowhere is that more evident than in the performances of Hartlepool.

A heavy opening day defeat at Richmond didn't look good, but two convincing away wins in three days over the bank holiday weekend have lifted the team to within seven points of early leaders Marton, and victory in today's Park Drive meeting with Darlington will install them as one of the title favourites.

New Sri Lankan professional Kasun Bodhisha missed the opening match, but even though he hasn't set the world on fire yet he looks a classy bat and almost certain to score heavily as the campaign unfolds.

Allied to Marc Symington's proven skills, the early bowling form of young left-arm quickie Callum Prosser, and the stability of new signing Neil Coverdale's batting, Pools look set to cast aside the inconsistency that typified their 2010 season.

Today they have the added boost of Michael Gough's seasonal debut while he has a break in his first-class umpiring duties. Not a bad deputy for the injured Danny Evans, who retired hurt on Monday after splitting his finger open.

Darlington have yet to taste victory, but have Bangladeshi Test star Rajin Saleh debuting. With 67 international matches under his belt, and one who takes pride in his physical fitness, he should be a real asset.

The current leaders of the pack are title favourites Marton, but they only hold a slim advantage after their bowlers took a pounding on Monday from Shani Dissanayake. No one escaped unscathed so the visit of Marske, who include last season's leading league run scorer Simon Guy, will be a test of their powers of recovery.

Marton's own Sri Lankan star, Upul Indrasiri, should take his place - he was the top all-rounder last year but jet lag may play a part. John Glendennen makes his seasonal debut.

The match of the day takes place at Fountain's Garth where rivals Guisborough and Great Ayton go head to head in what is usually a feisty encounter.

Normanby Hall have nosed into second place in the table, with sub pro Steve Naylor playing a big part. But his term is up as he returns to Surrey for the start of his home club's season there, and with no sign of Janaka Gunarathne yet, and Talab Ramzan unavailable, the Hall will be tested by unchanged visitors Stokesley who notched up their first win on Monday in emphatic fashion.

Bishop Auckland were Stokesley's victim, but they hope Kingsway will provide comfort today as they entertain a vibrant Richmondshire team who are yet again being served well by the brilliant Dissanayake who, apart from the little matter of all the runs he scores, currently tops the league wicket-takers chart as well.

Bishops hope to have Nigel Turner back after injury, while the visitors' only change is the inclusion of Sam Wood for Craig Swainston.

Richmond have another important date tomorrow when they entertain NEPL side Stockton in the first round of the national club championship, although Dissanayake will not play in that as the competition is for English qualified players only.

Champions Middlesbrough surprisingly find themselves in the bottom two ahead of their Acklam Park meeting with Billingham, and they will be missing Ryan Buckley who is playing for the Durham Academy, and Barnard Castle skipper Ben Usher is missing for the next three weeks so Mike Stanwix picks up the reins for the home match with Northallerton, their one absentee Andrew Fishburn.