The uncertainty of the weather and the possibility of important games being washed out could see a change at the top by tomorrow night, with only eight points separating the three leading clubs.

A double programme with 40 points at stake opens up opportunities for Evenwood, Tudhoe and Kimblesworth.

Evenwood, three points ahead of Tudhoe, have home advantage over Sedgefield today before visiting Mainsforth tomorrow. Neil Teasdale cannot play this afternoon and Chris Coatsworth will deputise but Evenwood are back to full strength at Mainsforth.

Evenwood have reached the final of the League Cup and will play Tudhoe, who line up against Crook Town and Brandon. Skipper Kevin Littlefair is absent and the side, which includes Adrian Stocker, will be led by influential early-order batsman Simon Davies.

Kimblesworth host Mainsforth before going to Langley Park and are pleased to be able to field an unchanged side for both games.

Although Ushaw Moor are fourth they are well off the leading trio before their fixtures with Etherley and Crook Town. Michael Hayton has recovered from a hamstring strain which has sidelined him for three weeks, but Stephen Hancock and John Bate cannot play. Peter Maddison and Mark Burnham line up this afternoon.

Tomorrow, there are further changes with Bate and Hancock resuming in place of Maddison and Burnham.

Brandon's aim is to be in the top four following their double with Willington and Tudhoe. It will be a tall order , but they field a full-strength line-up for both games with David Fort replacing talented youngster Jamie Robinson.

Esh Winning welcome the return from holiday of Graham Hurst and Bobby Parkinson at home to Shildon and at Sedgefield. Andrew Coulson and John Parkinson revert to the second XI.

At the bottom, Gary Davis will lead Shildon since Lee Douthwaite cannot play in the games with Esh Winning and Etherley. A further blow to Shildon's chances of moving off the basement is the news that both Chris Strong and Stuart Henderson are ruled out.

Professional Robert Chismon is working today so misses Mainsforth's fixture at Kimblesworth, but he's back for the home game with Evenwood, taking over from Chris Hardwick.

Crook Town, at one time second from top, are now eighth after losing five consecutive matches. They show no change for today's home clash with Tudhoe before visiting Ushaw Moor tomorrow.

Sedgefield captain Mike Ridley reports that Peter Rivis and Mark Jemmeson are unavailable for today's fixture at Evenwood when Richard Heslop and Simon Halliday play. Sedgefield have Rivis and Jemmeson returning against Esh Winning tomorrow.

Willington have just one game and have named their strongest available side at Brandon this afternoon. Langley Park are free today before resuming at home to Kimblesworth tomorrow.