It's an intense race for promotion from the second division with every team ion the top half of the table in with a chance.

14 point leaders Team Northumbria are promotion favourites, but several of the chasing pack have games in hand.

The big game in the division is between Darlington RA and North Shields. The RA, who are third, hope to have a full squad with centre half Dale Elgie returning from injury. Shields, who are sixth, lost in midweek to Crook, and angry manager Anthony Woodhouse will make several changes to the team.

Second placed Gillford Park, who surprisingly drew with bottom club Easington during the week, are at Ryton, and welcome back five players who missed that game, including recent signing Gavin Barton, who scored four on his debut last week..

Leaders Team Northumbria are at home to Alnwick, who parted company with their manager Danny Olsen in midweek.

Hebburn, who are in seventh, just three points off second, are at Seaham Red Star, whom they beat a fortnight ago, and Chris Jewels, Liam McBryde, Dean Nicholson, Jeff Forsyth and Martin Hunter all return to their squad. Seaham could include at least one new signing, while midfielder Calvin Gowland and striker Jordan Rungen return.

Easington, boosted by an excellent draw at Gillford Park in midweek, have a six pointer at fourth bottom Brandon, and add eight players to the squad that did so well, which will make them almost full strength. Brandon, who have failed to win any of their last ten games, add keeper Rhys Jobling and winger Ryan Readman to the squad, while defender Ian Race is injured.

Fifth placed Esh Winning, who have won their last three matches, are at home to Washington, and they are without midfielders Scott Richards and Alex Wilson, but into the squad come Luke Wilson, Simon Ord and Chris Smith.

Thornaby, who ended a 14 game run without a win in midweek, give new signing Gary Mitchell, signed from Northallerton, his debut in their home game against Whickham, while leading scorer Craig Skelton also returns to the squad.

Northallerton have slipped into the bottom half of the table in recent weeks, and they need to win at Chester-le-Street. Martin Butterworth, Stuart Jackson and Stuart Hardy are all missing for Northallerton, while striker Scott Swanston returns to the Chester squad.

Birtley, who are eighth, are at home to Morpeth, and their squad is boosted by the return of midfielder Craig Marron, plus strikers Ben Johnson and Andy Inness. Morpeth have climbed up the table into fourth in the last fortnight.

Crook had an excellent midweek away win at North Shields to keep their slim promotion hopes alive, and manager Gary Pearson will choose from a full squad away at Whitehaven. Former Darlington striker Richard Hodgson has now scored 15 league goals this season for them.

Second bottom Horden, who are looking over their shoulders at improving Easington, are at home to West Allotment, and manager Bobby Orton expects to have a full squad, with possibly two new signings. Paul Stoneman, the Allotment player-manager, is missing because of suspension.