With the battle to avoid relegation intensifying Percy Main have an opportunity of escaping from the bottom two, where they found themselves dumped last week following defeat by Tynedale.

That loss, coupled with victory for Ryton against Consett, left the North Shields side in the drop zone, but still well within reach of their rivals.

Barring a miracle in the last ten games Lintz will be relegated, but just eight points separate the three sides above them, and with Ryton going to Swalwell today, and Consett at second-placed Annfield Plain, they will both struggle to get anything from those matches.

But the Main look to have an opportunity to do well as they are at Leadgate, their hosts having only won on one more occasion than Main. Phil Cramman and leading all-rounder Barry Stewart return to replace Ross Errington and Wayne Thompson in the visitors side.

Ryton travel to Swalwell in hope rather than expectation as the formidable champions are already 49 points ahead of the chasing pack and show no signs of letting up. At the rate they are going they could have their seventh consecutive title in the bag by mid-August and will be turning out a full-strength side again today.

Ryton have to reckon without David Howorth, but Richard Brooks returns.

Consett's trip to Annfield Plain won't be that much easier as their hosts are enjoying a fine run with five wins in their last six games, although they have a number of changes with Greg Patterson, Liam Dixon and Saq Khan missing. Adam Phillips, Liam Maddison and Matty Smith are their replacements.

For Lintz the race looks all but run, defeats in every game leaving them 41 points adrift of safety with ten games to go. A derby at Burnopfield is unlikely to provide much solace as their neighbours have enjoyed a fine season which sees them in with a real shout of finishing a creditable second.

With Jonny Foster and Micky Edmunds away, Graeme and Jordan Clennell come into the Lintz side, while the home team are waiting on the availability of Lawrence Davey in the hope of naming their strongest line-up.

Jamie Crichton and Joe Barber are back for Tynedale, although Ben Archer and Richard Darling are missing for the home game against unchanged Lanchester, while James Ritzema and Tom Seymour return to the Ponteland dressing room ahead of the home game against a Shotley Bridge side that will include Phil Carlin.