Stockton, who with just one victory won fewer games than any other side last season, have boosted their squad with the addition of five newcomers as they aim to ensure they won't be caught in a relegation battle.

The Teessiders finished only 16 points and one place above wooden spoonists Tynemouth.

"Obviously, we are hoping for a better season and although we have lost James Davidson to Philadelphia, we have a quintet of new players," said fixture secretary Mike Syson.

Matthew Creese, who has played for Middlesex under-19s is a slow left-arm bowler and batsman. Lee Daggert is expected to improve the pace attack since he has had experience with Lancashire seconds.

Other newcomers are Pierre Mason, an off-spinner from Somerset, Guy Darwin who bowled seamers for Bedale last year and Philip Walker a left-handed batsman.

Norton too will be out to improve their position after they were an unhealthy third bottom in 2002. They are boosted with Marc Symington regularly available.

Simon Hawke has rejoined but there will be no overseas player.

"Kenny Gresham is again skipper and we are going for local talent," said chairman Keith Symington who could line up with his two sons Marc and Craig.

The club hope to have Durham County's Nicky Hatch available and their second Durham player is Vince Wells. Under new rules, sides can choose one County player for each match.

Sunderland look strong title candidates. They made an indifferent start to the last campaign but finished third still.

Their chances have been considerably enhanced with the signing of the former England and Durham paceman Simon Brown who is now fit after struggling with injuries in recent years.

Franklyn Rose is back after taking 100 wickets in his two seasons with the club. With former skipper Adam Applegarth, who with 102 wickets has claimed more scalps than any other bowler in the three-year history of the League, also available, the Ashbrooke outfit boast a formidable attack.

"We will take some beating," said secretary Michael Smith, who reports that the former Gateshead Fell wicket-keeper Tom Skillbeck is another newcomer.

Champions Benwell Hill have suffered a blow with the departure of James Miller to South Northumberland where he will manage their new cricket centre. David Rutherford has joined Ashington and it is hoped that ex-Cumberland minor counties captain Martin Lewis will play although the degree of his availability is uncertain.

A boost for captain Phil Nicholson is the return of Shahid Nazir who topped the averages last season with 58 wickets at 11.5 - but the 42 victims which Rutherford took will take some replacing.

With Dewald Pretorius signing for Durham County, South Northumberland have turned to West Indian paceman Reon King as they attempt to go one better by winning the title.

There have though been two significant departures with Craig McKellar returning to Scotland while Imran Shah has moved to Newcastle City. The addition of James Miller will strengthen the batting and with two spinners in Richard Brock and Michael Smalley available to new captain John Graham, the Tynesiders again look a good bet.

Philadelphia confounded the critics when they ended fourth in their first season in the League. They did not include a spinner but this time could have two, Lee Beaumont signed from Middlesbrough and Nicky Phillips is one of their two Durham players.

Beaumont has always been a prolific and economical bowler in the NYSD League and if Phillips is available on a regular basis, the pair should more than compensate for the loss of Australian Gavin Swan who collected 52 wickets last year.

Phili's only other newcomer is James Davidson from Stockton and 19-year old Australian Jim Allenby is back for a second year. With 818 runs he was the highest scorer in the League last season.

There are a number of changes at Chester-le-Street who will be keen to improve on fifth position after winning the championship in 2001.

Pace bowler Ashley Day has moved to Hartlepool, prolific scorer Sean Birbeck has rejoined Eppleton and Richard Kirby has left.

Skipper Tony Birbeck will be delighted the club has signed former Durham, Somerset and Middlesex player Ian Jones who was originally with neighbouring Sacriston.

Andrew Hamilton, an all-rounder who has moved into the area, and youngster Stephen Gale from Dawdon are new additions and Ashley Thorpe will play when free from Durham duties.

After ending third in the first two seasons of the competition, Blaydon slumped to seventh last time. They have a new professional in West Indian Neil McGarrell, a left-arm spinner and middle-order batsman who has played in one-day Internationals and Test matches for his country.

Ray Marshall, professional with Whickham last season, is back but a blow is the loss of paceman Andrew Robson to Horden.

Wooden spoonists Tynemouth are delighted that Northumberland's Graeme Hallam has rejoined from Swalwell and will captain the side.

Their new professional is Indian Iqbal Siddiqui who played against England in 2001. He is a right-arm pace bowler and top-order batsman. Another addition is quickie Ben McFarlane whose last club was Walsall.

There are changes too at Gateshead Fell, the most notable being the return of opener Stewart Hutton. Graeme Cessford (Tynedale) and Ben Young (Philadelphia) have also joined but former captain Chris Nichols has moved to Thornaby and Stephen Lugsden has thrown in his lot with Ryton.

Newcastle could be without captain Neil Wake for much of the season. He has twice recently been hospitalised with an eye problem and in his absence Wayne Ritzema will lead the team which will include Australian Ryan Phillimore as the overseas player.

Durham County will again field an Academy side, with Geoff Cook nurturing youngsters for the future.