Darlington RA can keep their promotion hopes alive by beating Esh Winning at Brinkburn Road.

However, player-manager Nick Harrison, midfielder Graham Whitehead and James Evison, plus defender Dale Elgie are all missing. Jimmy Muir returns to the squad. Esh, who still have a slim outside chance, expect to be at full strength.

Third placed Hebburn, who had an excellent win in midweek at North Shields, have a home game against Whickham, and manager Paul Bennett will have a squad of 18 to choose from, but defender Chris Jewels is missing because of suspension.

Birtley could still squeeze into the promotion frame if they beat second bottom Horden, but they will be missing 23 goal top scorer Danny Smart because of suspension, but midfielder Dan Smith and striker James Allsopp are added to the squad. Horden , who are six points above the bottom, will give a debut to Brian Harrison, signed from Stockton Town, while keeper Chris Elliott has agreed to stay at the club for the rest of the season.

The game of the day is between Morpeth, in second, and Gillford Park, in fifth. Gillford add seven players to the team that lost at Darlington RA, with two strikers, Marc Shiel and Michael Reed, amongst them.

League leaders Team Northumbria, who are three points clear, have a local derby against West Allotment. The visitors are badly hit by injuries and suspension, and player-manager Paul Stoneman, who is himself struggling with an injury, might only have 13 players to choose from.

Bottom club Easington are at the point where they can't afford to lose games, and they're at home to Northallerton. Manager Paul Adamson is without defender John Hutton and striker Simon Todd, while midfielder Chris Hall is doubtful. Northallerton add some strength to their forward line with the returns of Darren Mowbray and Gavin Parkin.

Thornaby, who are fifth bottom, are at Ryton, and will be missing defender Dave Turner because of suspension, but they give young striker James McLeod, signed from local football, his debut.

Chester-le-Street are hoping to include two new signings, Adam Croft from Jarrow Roofing and Luke Wilson from Esh Winning, when they go to Crook Town, while striker Tom Vickers returns to the squad. Crook are missing strikers Richard Hodgson and Kev Devine, midfielder John Toft and defender Robbie Bird, but they welcome back midfielder Corey Barnes and Ian Bickerstaff.

In the other games, Brandon are at home to Alnwick, and are without their top scorer Mark Brischuk because of suspension, while North Shields, whose promotion chances have now gone, are at Whitehaven