Lanchester have been dealt a severe blow with the news that their overseas professional is likely to be sidelined for a month as they try to steer a path away from the NTSL drop zone.

The club waited patiently for Cobus Langenhoven to arrive in the country, but after breaking his finger when trying to take a caught and bowled in his debut last week the prognosis is that the South African could be out for up to four weeks. Given that the side have yet to register a win, and are currently in one of the relegation positions, it is a piece of bad luck they could well have done without.

And they have to face a team in form today when unbeaten and unchanged Percy Main are the visitors to Ashley Park. Lee Murray is drafted in to replace the injury victim, but one piece of good news is that Durham UCCE player Jon Salt will make his debut in place of Marc Ramshaw.

Another team facing injury woe are Annfield Plain, and this was also self-inflicted. Two ex-Durham men collided in mid-run when batting together last week, Melvyn Betts unfortunately coming off much worse than Killer Killeen from the encounter. Betts was unable to carry on batting and the prognosis is that a damaged rotator cup in the shoulder may keep him out for six weeks. With a trip to unchanged Shotley Bridge beckoning today Adam McArdle comes in for Betts.

Sacriston received a tremendous boost in midweek when they turned on the style to tip Swalwell out of the A Division cup, and they hope to take that form into the league today when they visit Leadgate. Youngster Reece Carr headlined in that win and underlined the tremendous potential which sees him with 232 first team runs under his belt already. There is only one change in their line-up, with Mark Fort replacing Andrew Dixon.

Leadgate will have one notable absentee with club stalwart and wicket keeper Paul McCourt having taken the tough decision to retire due to injury. His place goes to Paul Hockaday.

Leaders Tynedale will be expected to maintain their progress as they have a home game against bottom club Lintz who have lost both the games they have managed to play so far. The Hexham outfit name an unchanged team, while the visitors welcome back Michael Christie and Kevin Johnson.

In the rest of today's programme Swalwell seek to get over the cup shock and are at full strength for the visit of a Burnopfield team that includes Tony Bewick, while Chopwell are unchanged for their trip to Longhirst Hall to take on high flying Morpeth.