The NEPL premier division title battle steps up a gear when leaders Chester-le-Street entertain second-placed Blaydon.

The Cestrians have home advantage and the opportunity to extend their 19-point lead at the top, while the visitors get the chance to reel in the early season table-toppers. Chester have the boost of being able to select Graeme Cessford, although leading run scorer George Harrison is missing due to exam commitments. Andrew Sturgeon has recovered from a broken thumb and will resume his wicket-keeping duties for Blaydon.

Stockton should be able to improve their current eighth place standing as they entertain struggling Gateshead Fell, although the visitors name an unchanged side from that which secured a battling draw against the Durham Academy last time out to move off the bottom.

The Teessiders include the influential Richard Waite, the all-rounder recovered from a back problem after two weeks out.

Whitburn prop up the rest, two points behind the Fell, and they show two changes for their trip to the Emirates ICG to take on the unbeaten Academy, with Andy Brandt and Luke Smith replacing Ian Elliot and Mark Thursby.

First Division runaway leaders Brandon face a real test when they travel to take on Burnmoor. The visitors have won all five of their matches to date, but Burnmoor are unbeaten after their promotion last term, and are handily placed in third.

Brandon have Ryan Nicholson back in the fold – he has turned in some outstanding performances since his close-season move– while the Moor have to reckon without top bowler Ian Conn, McKenzie Wright stepping in to replace the man who has been the home club’s leading bowler for many a year.

Washington will be hoping their two rivals slug each other to a standstill as it will give them the chance to claw back some of the 37-points advantage Brandon enjoy, and the second-placed side are unchanged for the first this summer when they entertain a Sacriston team who have also put out the same again signs.

Indian Nilkanth Parab is expected to debut for Seaham Harbour at South Hetton, and Joe Coyne could make a rapid return to action for Boldon when they host full-strength Tudhoe only a couple of weeks since an appendix operation.