Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League: Redcar captain Martin Hood is delighted with his side's form in the early weeks of the season, but cautions against complacency ahead of the double programme.

"This is my second spell with Redcar and I believe we have a very good team and a fine professional in Dulip Samaraweera, but there are probably five or six teams in the league who will challenge for the championship.

"We are the only unbeaten side and enjoy a 16-point lead at the top, but we have two difficult games against Darlington and Blackhall. They have strong batting line-ups and we will need to bowl and field well if we are to pick up a good number of points," said Hood, who is in his first year as captain although he did lead the team a few seasons ago before moving to Middlesbrough.

Redcar are at full strength for both matches and Darlington follow today's fixture at Feethams with a home game against Thornaby tomorrow.

Yorkshire's Simon Guy, who has starred with the bat, is unable to play. Kevin Mott takes his place today and Danny Morgans fills the vacancy tomorrow when a further alteration is needed since Duncan Johnson is sidelined. Philip Buxton is his replacement.

Saltburn, who suffered a shock defeat last weekend, trail Redcar by 16 points. They are at home to Thornaby, the only side yet to taste victory before moving on to Northallerton. With Martin Ellwood available, he is a straight replacement for Chris Burke who cannot turn out.

Middlesbrough, buoyed by their splendid result last weekend, will hope to move off the basement, but they face another stiff test today against Darlington RA at Brinkburn Road before travelling to Bishop Auckland tomorrow.

James Beaumont and Brett Roberts are both sidelined so Jack Conway and last season's skipper Danny Evans are named.

Following their tough assignment at Saltburn, second from bottom Thornaby go to Darlington and they could find it difficult to clinch a first win of the season.

Blackhall, for whom professional Imran Jan scored a magnificent 161 but failed to steer his side to victory last Saturday, are third from the bottom ahead of their double at Marske and at home to Redcar.

Gavin Watts and Ricky Darwin are called into the side and captain Jan will be hoping to improve his team's lowly rating.

Bishop Auckland have made a reasonable start to life in the top flight after being promoted following a season in Division One.

Cricket co-ordinator Paul Furby is happy with the form of Indian professional Amul Mazundar, who played in the Foster's ECB North East Regional Premier League with Tynemouth last season.

"Amul has settled in very well but the team as a whole has made a good beginning," he said.

"Richard Hawthorn is scoring regularly and next weekend we will have Hiran Maramby available for his first game following his return from university."

Today Bishops meet Hartlepool at Kingsway with Paul Jenkin returning taking over from Frank Smith. Middlesbrough are visitors tomorrow when Bishops need to make a further change since Chris Pratt is sidelined and Smith makes a quick return.

Darlington RA captain David Eckels is another who is happy with early season results which have seen the Brinkburn Road team lose just once in eight outings.

"We are fifth from top which is a bit of a luxury for us, but really we have just continued to build on the improvement we showed last season," enthused Eckels.

Stephen Bell for Colin Cartwright is the only alteration to the side for the double with Middlesbrough and at Normanby Hall.

Marske will be missing Richard Rennard for at least a month with a broken arm. His replacement is big hitter Carl Bramwell as the Seasiders, who ended runners-up last season, attempt to move into the top half of the table by beating Blackhall and Hartlepool.

Normanby Hall, meanwhile, will try to consolidate their promising standing with home games against Richmondshire and Darlington RA. Mel Sykes is injured and with both Tom Burke and Michael Addison out of the team, Chris Vasey will keep wicket and he is joined in the XI by Dave Cross and Roy Myers.

Northallerton have two home games with Guisborough and Saltburn. Their professional Jonathan Barnes is playing as well as ever, almost weekly turning in outstanding performances with bat and ball. Peter Guy for John Place is Northallerton's only change.

Guisborough, who have won the league in both of the last two seasons, are sixth from top 35 points adrift of the leaders.

They need good results from their two away matches at Northallerton and Richmondshire if they are to begin to make an impact in the challenge for the title.

Today, Ryan Murray comes in for Saul and with the latter unable to turn out tomorrow, Anthony Parsons is drafted into the team.

Hartlepool have a double with Bishop Auckland before hosting Marske and their only doubt surrounds the availability of Ian Jackson for tomorrow's fixture.

Richmondshire at Normanby Hall, before lining up at home to Guisborough, are unchanged.

Wolviston enjoy a 32 points advantage over Seaton Carew in Division One.

There is only one programme today when Wolviston are at home to fourth top Great Ayton, but tomorrow Wolviston set out on the National Village Cup trail visiting Ingleton. Captain George Sayers reports that he has a couple of players doubtful.