Two games dominate this weekend, with today’s Premier Division encounter between South Northumberland and Chester-le-Street likely to go a long way to deciding just who the 2015 champions will be, and tomorrow’s Banks Salver final holding out the intriguing possibility of history being made.

The two giants of NEPL cricket have had many defining battles in the past, but with just 12 points separating the big guns Chester have the opportunity to reclaim the leadership which they handed over to the Bulls at the beginning of July after dominating the first half of the season.

Their hosts are unbeaten, and since hitting the top have shown few signs of fallibility, so the view of many pundits is that this is a stalemate banker, a result that would suit the home side far more than it would Chester who have to solve the conundrum of knowing that a defeat would possibly end their title hopes. Victory would give them the upper hand going into the final three games. Both sides have announced that they are at full strength, with Jimmy Miller back to boost the Bulls.

There can rarely have been any bigger weekends in the history of Eppleton Cricket Club than the one about to unfold over the next couple of days.

The First Division leaders seek to protect a two-point advantage at the top of the table when they entertain Tudhoe this afternoon, while tomorrow sees them with a second chance (they were the losing finalists in 2014) to become the first Division One side to take the prestigious Banks Salver when Tynemouth are the visitors to Church Road (1.30pm).

Eppleton recognize the importance of league progress, but would also love to make their own unique mark in the NEPL record books.

Other than the holidaying David Wilkinson the hosts will be at full strength for the big day, although Tynemouth have to reckon without the services of skipper Ben Debnam and Andrew Smith. Graeme Hallam will captain the side and Marcus Turner returns.