Saltburn have the opportunity to considerably extend their lead at the top of the premier division when they are one of only two sides to play twice this weekend.

Following their scheduled fixture at home to bottom club Billingham Synthonia tomorrow, they meet Redcar in a re-arranged game on Sunday.

Second-top Guisborough line up against Middlesbrough at Acklam Park unable to call upon Saul Clifford, but Stephen Pennock has returned from holiday.

Middlesbrough, who won both games last weekend, show a number of alterations to their line-up with Colin Haslett, Guy Whatmore and Omar Shahid coming in for Danny Evans, Johnny Spillane and Anthony Taylor.

Darlington RA are pleased with their eighth-from-top placing ahead of their game with lowly Richmondshire at Brinkburn Road, where captain Phil Crowther is hopeful that Ashar Zaidi will be able to play.

He was forced to miss last Sunday's game after picking up a groin strain when scoring a half-century the previous day. But James Middleton is a definite absentee and Richard Hill steps up from the second team.

Richmondshire are off the bottom, but still too near the basement for comfort. They are strengthened by the inclusion of Ben Biker and David Mathias, who are preferred to Jamie Stead and Clifton Jacobs.

Danny Morgans and Mark Dobinson replace Ricky Hopwood and Lee Craggs for Darlington at home to Hartlepool, who have Andy Smith taking over from Gary Tebbett. Mike Gough will captain the side in Tebbett's absence.

There is a local derby at Marske with Redcar providing the opposition. Ben Walker and Jack Hugill are named for Kevin Welch and Chris Gibbon in the home line-up, while Redcar retain Lee Powell, who produced a match-saving innings last Saturday.

Shaun McGarry and Andy Hassack are included with Stephen Hutchinson and Ross Douglas making way.

Ian Place replaces his brother John and John Sample lines up for skipper Ian Gill in the Northallerton side to visit Bishop Auckland.

Saltburn won the crucial match of the day against Guisborough last Saturday and, although they were held to a draw by Darlington next day, they took 15 points from the game to accumulate a healthy 35 out of 40 in the double programme.

It was a close call for them at Fountains Garth, however, when they had just four runs to spare over their rivals.

Tony Bell struck 11 boundaries in 69 as the Seasiders ended on 180 with David Towse returning 4-67 from 25 overs and Chris Murray 5-75 from the 17 overs he delivered.

Guisborough were then in with a chance of victory when Imran Jan (48) and Johnny May (65no) were together, but May ran out of partners and the innings closed on 176.

Saltburn were in the ascendancy at stumps when they entertained Darlington with eight of the visitors' wickets down for only 208. Neil Pratt (71) and Danny Morgans (76) were in form, but two Saltburn players scored centuries.

Adil Ditta contributed 106 and Tony Bell an unbeaten 104 to the formidable total of 286-2 declared.

Guisborough's second game was at Marske, where they collected 15 points from the draw. Saul Clifford (74) and Jan (59) led Guisborough to 246-6 before Marske replied with 180, which included an undefeated 80 by Rob Nicol and 51 from Ryan Lazenby.

Before they met Saltburn, Darlington travelled to Northallerton, where they won comfortably by six wickets.

Despite 47 by Doug Mulholland, the home side totalled only 141 and Steve Chapman (47) top-performed in Darlington's match-winning reply of 146-4.

Bishop Auckland also had a win and a draw from their two games. On Saturday they visited Hartlepool, who romped to 251-6 before Bishops replied with 175-4, including 41 by Amul Mazumdar and an unbeaten 65 from Andy Bowman.

Sunday's game resulted in an early finish as Billingham Synthonia were despatched for only 65 at Kingsway when Ben Usher returned the magnificent figures of 8-25. Mazumdar (34no) then eased Bishops to a seven-wicket victory.

Darlington RA drew at Great Ayton before defeating Normanby Hall by nine wickets. David Eckels and Ashar Zaidi both made half-centuries in RA's total of 200-6 before Ayton hit back with 170-6, to which John Grainge contributed 72.

Graeme Hird (5-52) played the leading role as Normanby Hall were dismissed for only 159, a target which RA met with comfort as Danny Page ended unbeaten on 83 and David Eckels contributed 51 not out.

Northallerton lost both games. After going down to Darlington, they visited Middlesbrough, where they were all out for just 136, of which captain Ian Gill scored 55. Batting first, Boro posted 171 with a top-scoring 50 by Darren Birkett.

The victory completed a weekend double for Boro, who won by more than 100 runs at Billingham Synthonia a day earlier. Birkett scored 53 and, although Martin Cull took 6-87 in 25 overs, Boro ended on 206-8 before the home side were all out for 100 with new professional Mitch Claydon capturing 5-13 in 12 overs.

After defeating Normanby Hall by 99 runs on Saturday when Clive Layfield hit a century, Richmondshire went down by 14 runs to Great Ayton.