Sunderland RCA striker Alex Benjamin is aiming for his third successive hat trick when they go to Newton Aycliffe this afternoon.

Benjamin, transferred from South Shields a month ago, is the league’s joint top scorer with 18 goals, and when he played for South Shields at Aycliffe earlier in the season, he scored from the halfway line.

The RCA could go top today, as the two clubs above them are both on Vase duty. Defenders Richie Paxton and Carl Beasley both return to the squad.

Aycliffe striker Warren Byrne will have to wait for his return home debut after transferring from Shildon last week, as he is unavailable. Ben Wood and Josh Gray are also missing.

In what both clubs are calling a six-pointer, Tow Law can give their survival chances a boost by beating third bottom Billingham Town, who are a point above them. Midfielders Scott Thompson and Alan Herbert return, but midfielder Jonathan Hewitson and defender Steven Banks are both missing because of injury.

Town include new striker David Onions, who helped Guisborough to promotion last season, while midfielder Craig Perry returns. Ben Turner is still missing because of injury.

Guisborough are hoping to bounce back from a midweek thrashing when they face Bishop Auckland at the King George. Manager Chris Hardy had to play several players out of position in midweek, and he adds defender Tommy Marron, midfielder Willie Boland and striker James Decosmo to the squad, while defender Mark Casey is struggling because of injury.

Bishops manager Colin Myers is hoping that some of their injury problems clear up, while he has signed defender Craig Hodgson from second division Whickham.

Marske United can climb further away from the bottom four if they beat fourth bottom Jarrow Roofing and they will be without injured full back Andy Raw, while there is a work doubt over defender Adam Wheatley. Another defender, Lee Donachie, is suspended. Roofing, who are four points above the relegation zone, welcome back midfielder Kris Hughes and defender Anth Myers, but striker Tony Thirkell is unavailable.

Norton are at home to Bedlington, and manager Conrad Hillerby will be missing midfielder Dale Mulligan because of suspension, while several players will have fitness tests.

Shildon are at home to Stokesley, who have collected just one point this season, and manager Gary Forrest expects to choose from a full squad.

South Shields go to Penrith, and they will be without Andy Barclay because he is unavailable.