In the NEPL, champions Chester-Le-Street travel to Newcastle and will be unchanged from last week. Skipper John Coxon said: “We played well last week and Newcastle will be strong as usual and we are excited about the game and looking forward to the challenge.”

Newcastle plan to stick with the same team, but Cameron Steel may be unavailable.

Whitburn entertain Hetton Lyons and captain Dan Shurben has Mark Elliott out with a broken finger, replaced by Dan Quinan. Kieran Waterson is also out and will be replaced by Craig Henderson.

Hetton Lyons skipper Jarvis Clay stated: “Dominic Thomson from Australia is flying in this week and should take his place in the top order, probably at number three. Chris Martin is missing due to having an operation, but Adam Shaw is back in the first team, as a top order batsman.”

Eppleton play Felling and Joe Blacklock is back from holiday and replaces Guy Dunn who is unavailable. Official John Smithson said: “We expect a good hard game from Felling, who have just been promoted and we hope to put in another good all round performance.”

Felling are without Craig Stephenson and Nicky Heron and they are waiting on the fitness of Fred Simon. Skipper Simon Wood said: “We are looking forward to the exciting challenge that last season's promotion has brought us and taking each week at a time and looking to consolidate our position in the League.”

Benwell Hill travel down Stockton and skipper Pete Halliday has with the same team as last week, but hope their overseas professional will arrive in time.

Stockton anticipate having an unchanged team, even though they were heavily beaten by eight wickets at home to South North last week.

In the Readers Durham Cricket League, Whiteleas and Harton begin life in the first division with a tough opener, as they welcome Philadelphia.

Following last years' promotion, Leas have endured a busy winter recruitment with the addition of three new players. All-rounder Rameez Nawaz, as well as batsmen Conor Elliot and Dev Sudhir, will debuts. There is also a return to the club for Ryan Dowens following a short spell at Marsden.

Wicketkeeper Scott Oliver will assist skipper Owen Peterson this season. However, the latter misses his side’s curtain raiser as he concludes management duties at Hebburn Town FC.

Philadelphia have also boosted their squad, as they bid to improve on last season's third–top rating with a hat-trick of signings. The Bunker Hill side has overcome a major close-season blow by signing Pakistani Zohaib Shera to replace Indian Amer Singh who was ineligible to play in this Country this season.

Captain Shaun Smith explained: “It was a huge loss when we got the news that Singh would be unable to join us for a second season, but I'm confident we have signed an excellent replacement. Zohaib has played 31 first class games and taken 124 wickets. He's a left arm seamer and should do very well.”

In the NTSL, Shotley Bridge entertain promoted Lintz and skipper Stuart Graham said: “We finished second last year, and will be pushing for the title again this year hopefully. We’re pretty much at full strength, with the same team as last year, with new signing – all-rounder Nicky Allen from Newcastle.”

Lintz chairman Chris Jones said: “We’re newly promoted to the A1, so looking forward to the Spa at Shotley Bridge. It will be a good opening game for us, and an exciting prospect. We’re looking forward to renewing old acquaintances against old rivals who have had great success over the years, and hopefully we can emulate some of their performances.”

Stephen Smith and Andrew Smith return and local lad Matty Young, ex-Burnopfield, will be joining as Gary Christie continues as first team captain.

Lanchester entertain Consett and skipper Stuart McPhail said: “It looks like they have a couple of new signings. We beat them twice last year, home and away, but they look stronger, so we’re expecting a tough game.”

“We have two new signings in Callum Barnes from Tynedale, and Harry Lovell from Burnopfield and both go straight into the team. Overseas player Sam Crooks from New Zealand makes his debut.”

Alan Waters from Consett said: “We are a bit of an up and down team, last year we had excellent wins against top teams and losses to the lower league teams. We are inconsistent at times, so looking to be a little bit more consistent this season.”

Gary Hunter taken over the captaincy and we have two new players in Seb Stewart-Taylor from Durham University on recommendation from Gareth Breeze and Sam Shikh and new bowler, Syed Sameer Haque, on recommendation of professional Cameron Mansoor.

Champions Ashington open their campaign, with a tough game at Newcastle City.