Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League: Sunderland and Stockton will be battling it out for the chance to finish the season in third position when they meet at Ashbrooke this morning.

It looks as if the top two places are out of bounds since neither South Northumberland nor Durham Academy show any signs of weakening.

"For us to be in the running for the championship will have meant us defeating South North last week. I thought we were in a reasonable position when the rain arrived but that was probably our last opportunity to make up ground on the 50 points lead they have on us," said Sunderland secretary Mike Smith.

Today, the home side are once again unable to include the former Middlesex and Durham County opener Michael Roseberry, who has played only a few games in his first season at Ashbrooke. Also missing is Adam Applegarth, who is still not fit enough for the rigours of the premier league.

"There is no doubt that the absence of two talented players has had an impact, but even so we are fifth from top and we are now going all out to end third top," added Smith, who reports that Lee Rushworth, Michael Nunn and wicketkeeper Tom Skillbeck are all in contention for a return to Simon Old's line-up.

It has certainly been a rags to riches season for Stockton, who did not find the going easy during their first three years in the competition. They are third, 38 points off South Northumberland and just 16 points away from Durham Academy.

"We have certainly played a lot better and we could finish second which would be a commendable achievement. Even third place would be a big improvement on what we have managed in previous seasons but we will need another good result at Sunderland to keep us up near the top," said fixtures secretary Mike Syson. Stockton enjoy the luxury of being unchanged for the third successive week.

Norton have been unable to emulate the form of their Teesside neighbours but celebrated last weekend when they moved off the bottom of the table for the first time in weeks.

"It has been a long hard slog but hopefully we can end the campaign on a high," declared chairman Keith Symington.

"Although we were at the basement until we defeated Blaydon last Saturday, we had in fact won one game more than Tynemouth, but obviously we had not done so well picking up batting and bowling bonus points."

Indian Siddhardh Verma will play his second game as Norton's overseas player after making an impressive debut with bat and ball last week.

"Siddhardh is touring with India Academy and hopefully he will be able to play for us on Saturdays until the end of the season. This is his fifth visit to England so he knows the conditions and his profile fits in with that of Norton's," added Symington, whose son Craig is absent at Newcastle and Leigh Dalby will keep wicket.

Newcastle captain Wayne Ritzema is delighted with the improvement his side has shown this season and especially during recent weeks. "The good thing is that all the players are chipping in - it's not a matter of one or two players carrying the team," enthused Ritzema.

Former Durham City player Tim Stonoch cannot play today and his place is taken by Nick Tomlinson while another change sees Keith Brown come in for Johnny Bailey.

If the form book is any guide, leaders South Northumberland have an easy task at home to Philadelphia, but they will no doubt recall that they were held to a draw in the first meeting between the teams and, but for a dropped catch at a crucial stage, Phili may well have won.

Even so, John Graham's side start favourites to retain pole position, which they have held for much of the season. Their prospects today are enhanced with the inclusion of Durham County's Ian Hunter.

Phili will also have a Durham man in their line-up. Nicky Phillips will turn-out for just the third time and there is no doubt that last week his inclusion was a big influence on the side in the rain aborted game against Tynemouth when only 13 runs were required before a deluge ruled out any further play.

Chester-le-Street, who also have their eyes on finishing at least third, face a difficult test when they line up against Durham Academy at the Race Course ground. The boost for the Cestrians is the return from holiday of Tony Birbeck, who will lead the side.

Blaydon meet local rivals Gateshead Fell celebrating the selection of Craig Simpson for his Northumberland debut for the game against Bedford. Captain Mark Break plays and Graeme Onions will probably bowl his full quota of overs after being restricted to just six last Saturday.

Gateshead Fell miss spinner David Young and Johnny Foster, but Michael Strange resumes.

Tynemouth, now bottom of the table, are stronger with the inclusion of captain Graeme Hallam, Wayne Falla and Robbie Herdman at home to Benwell Hill. Barry Stuart though, is out with a broken finger and Anthony Turner is also unavailable.