AFTER the opening rounds of sparring, teams get down to some serious business this weekend with a double Bank Holiday programme.

Eight teams are separated by just three points in midtable, and two of them meet.

The rejuvenated Hartlepool are the only side retaining a 100 per cent record.

From last season’s relegation battlers to this year’s early table-toppers is quite a transformation and, although it’s still very early days, the signs are that Pools are in it for the long haul.

The pairing of professionals, Sri Lankan Janaka Gunaratne and ex-Durham man Marc Symington, looks very astute and they will have a major influence as the campaign unfolds.

Great Ayton are the first to test Pools newly-found potency at Park Drive this afternoon, and, of course, they have their own kingpins in Pakistani Riaz Afridi, who already has 15 wickets to his name after just two games, and Chris Batchelor, who has 140 runs in two knocks.

Despite drawing twice the Aytonians have garnered enough points to be joint third, and their only change is the return of Michael Croft from injury.

The leaders bring in Paul Jackson for the umpiring Mike Gough today, although Gough returns for their second match at Fountains Garth on Monday. The Priorymen are unchanged for their double, which starts at Richmond, James Lines kept in after a late call-up last week.

Bishop Auckland will soon be able to take Paul Furby out of firing line and back into retirement, but the club is in the process of completing the paperwork to bring ex-Hartlepool and Guisborough stumper Graham Wrightson to Kingsway.

But Wrightson won’t be signed in time for either of the games this weekend, so Furby’s last stands will take place at Marske this afternoon, and at home to Marton on Monday.

Richie Arnott is back for Bishops, and whilst Ben Usher will miss out today, he does return for the Bank Holiday match.

Richmondshire have a difficult pair of games – home to Guisborough and then away at Acklam Park, but they have key bowler Chris Layfield recovered from injury.

Shani Dissanayake is still awaiting his visa.

Richard Chandler and Andrew Fishburn return to the Northallerton team for their matches at Marton and then home to Darlington, but the Quakers will be without Liam Coates, with James Sutton returning.

The visitors to Feethams today are Middlesbrough.

Boro give a seasonal debut to Durham’s Kyle Coetzer, and Liam Botham also plays.

Yasir Shah is expected to arrive in the middle of next week.

Thornaby, too, will not have their overseas man in time for the weekend, and Neil Coverdale misses their first game at home to Blackhall, returning on Monday against Great Ayton. Richie Rennard and Paul Allen both come in.

Blackhall’s double is completed with a home game against Normanby Hall, and have the classy South African Warren Swan in the team, as well as new signing Dan Hardy, a Durham University student just transferred to them from Bradninch CC where he has been playing minor counties for Devon.

Paul Moss also makes his seasonal debut after completion of football commitments.

Hall lie in second place and begin their weekend at Cricket Lane against Billingham, Dave Cross drafted in. Marske promote Jordan Carroll for the home match with Bishops and away to the Synners, whilst Marton have Tom Chadwick back.

In Division One, two of the three teams with 100 per cent records meet today when Stokesley entertain Barnard Castle, with the other hundred per center, Middlesbrough, at Guisborough.