With Burnmoor drawing on both days of last weekend's double-header, Whitburn clawed back 11 points on the leaders and are now just 14 adrift.

The major beneficiaries were Hetton Lyons, who surged into third place with a 39-point haul, seven more than any other side.

There is great belief in the Lyons camp that they can challenge the top two and they will want to reinforce their argument when they take on Horden at home today.

Good news for Lyons is Des Beach has been declared fit after a calf strain, but they have to do without skipper Bobby Steel.

Burnmoor will be overwhelming favourites when they travel to Seaham Harbour to take on the team propping up the table.

However, Harbour put on two battling performances last weekend which should have lifted their spirits, and they have Neil McKinney, Simon Weston and Stephen Sennett back today.

Second bottom face second top as Felling entertain a Whitburn side without Eden Elstob. Ian Elliott comes in to replace him. Felling have the influential Chris Pleasants back for the game with the title hopefuls.

Durham City got that long-awaited win last weekend and their recent performances suggest better times lie ahead. Their home game with South Hetton sees the visitors in slightly more erratic form, and much may depend on their state following last night's Armbrister final! City have two missing and Hetton are without John Pendlington.

The other finalists, Boldon, are at home to Marsden and will be without Grant Foster, while the visitors have Nicky Quinn back in for Brett Horgan.

Only one point separates Eppleton and Philadelphia in mid-table after the former salvaged draws against the top two and Phili suffered a shock reversal to Durham City, but then appeared to be heading for big things against Horden until the weather intervened.

Eppleton stick with the same team and Phili are back to full strength, which means the return of Mark Hopkinson, who missed the double programme as his wife gave birth, and David Naunton, who has recovered from his ankle problem.

The race for Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League honours is enthralling.

Champions Tynedale are clinging on to the tails of the top three - they are 25 points behind the leaders and 16 behind today's opponents, Leadgate. They make the trip with Alex Thompson coming in for Craig Barber.

Leaders Lintz are missing a vital component for their home game with Morpeth. Skipper Gary Christie is working in Canada, replaced by Anthony Ward.

Swalwell have as good a win/lose ratio as anyone and will want to make full use of home advantage against a Sacriston side still not clear of trouble. The home team name the same line up that got the fright of its life last week against Benwell and Walbottle, while Sacriston have Melvyn Betts and Ian Jones returning.

Shotley Bridge have a full strength side out at home to Newcastle City, while Percy Main go to Annfield Plain with Paul Merryweather returning, although Craig Downey is out.