It’s bottom v top in the ENL First Division.

Crook Town, who are bottom, are at home to fourth in the table Bedlington still looking for their first league win of the season. Recent signing Dean Thexton is missing, but Kallum Holbrook, Jason Brazauskas and Andrew Blackburn should return.

Bedlington, who were knocked off the top in midweek, are without seven players for various reasons, including top scorer Stephen Young.

West Auckland entertain North Shields, and they will be without striker Mattie Moffat because of injury, but midfielder Robbie Briggs returns after missing the midweek win at Celtic Nation. Shields are missing several strikers because of injury – Gareth Bainbridge, Dean Holmes, Dean Walker and Peter Glen-Ravenhill, so Dan Smart will lead the line. Midfielder Robbie Livermore has moved to the club from Whitley Bay.

Newton Aycliffe, with Allan Oliver back in charge as manager again, are at Celtic Nation, and they are without defender Dan Mitton because of a knee injury, while Adrian Webster, who quit as manager last weekend, has left the club as a player and coach also.

The Nation will include their founder, Steve Skinner, for his second game, but they are missing Sean Bannon and Mike Reed, but five players come back into the squad who missed the midweek defeat by West Auckland.

Guisborough are at home to bottom club Sunderland RCA, and they welcome back midfielders Liam McPhillips and Chay Liddle, but they are missing Dan Dixon, Luke Bythway, Peter Bulmer and Andrew May. The RCA welcome back five players, including former Guisborough player Lewis Wood, while his brother Gary will have a fitness test. Joseph Hughes is also poised to start the game after recovering from injury.

Durham City are at Penrith, and manager Ian Chandler expects to choose from a full strength squad, except for keeper Gareth Young, who has been transfer listed.

Billingham Synthonia, who had three men dismissed in midweek at Ashington, are at home to Whitley Bay, and will be without Robbie Bettson, Shaun Clarke, Luke Richardson, Foz Garton, Dan Newby and Bryan Stewart, but Theo Furness returns.

After having ten players out for various reasons last week, manager Leon Ryan is only missing one this week, central defender Chris Reid. Whitley have placed defender Thomas Bott on the transfer list.

Sixth bottom Jarrow Roofing are at home to Morpeth, who are sixth top.

Roofing include former Boro youngster Bruno Pilatos, who was with Darlington last season and was last at Crook Town. However, strikers John Campbell and Jonathan Wright are amongst seven players injured. Morpeth welcome back Stephen Forster and David Hiftle, but Shaun Bell and Jordan Fry are unavailable.

In the second division, Northallerton, who are ninth, are at home to league leaders Team Northumbria, and they include former Darlington striker Danny Mellanby, who has joined as player-coach. TN have lost only once this season.

Ryhope CW, who are five points behind TN in second, are at home to Willington, and include new midfielder Max Stoker who has been signed from Durham City. Richard Hodgson and Martyn Metcalfe both return, but Paul Braithwaite and Stephen Francis are both missing. Willington are without keeper Stephen Robinson, so Jack Patton replaces him in goal. Aidan Goodey will have a fitness test.

Billingham Town, who won in the Vase in midweek but are without a league win this season, are at Birtley, and include new striker Gary Redman, signed from Stokesley. Joe Callender will have a fitness test, while Michael Dalton and Lee Aimes are added to the squad. Birtley are without five players because of injury, but striker Craig Suggett returns to the side, while they have received international clearance for Jack Watchman.

Heaton Stannington, who are at Ryton and Crawcrook, are without Gary Dixon, Ian Dixon and Rob Pearson, while Lewis Burns is struggling because of injury.

Hebburn are at bottom club Brandon, and they will be missing their top scorer, Shaun Reay, defender Chris Smith and keeper Gary Rogers, but midfielder Alan Pegram returns.

Darlington RA, who have gone unbeaten in their last six, are at Esh Winning and welcome back striker Freddie Huscroft while they will give a debut to keeper Phil Pentony. However, Paul New and Jordan Hanratty are both missing. Esh, who had a good win in midweek, are without Karl Turner and Scott Briden.

Tow Law, who are third bottom with only one league win this season, are at home to Thornaby and they will give defender Lewis Harrison his first game of the season, but they are still without injured pair Robbie Blemmings and Michael Robson.

Norton are at home to Alnwick, and they welcome back Ryan Burns, Michael Joseph and Ollie Smith, but Marcus Laing and Dale Mulligan are both unavailable Whickham are at Seaham Red Star, and they will give injured quartet Matty Atkin, David Fitzpatrick, Andy Farrey and Craig Jelley fitness tests. Seaham have signed keeper Jak Wells from Crook Town.

Stokesley manager Nicky Ward is hoping to include at least one new signing before their home game with Washington, while Dan Jones and Mark Edzes are both available again.

Washington welcome first choice keeper Neal Atkinson back into the side, while there will be fitness tests for Paul Wardle, Greg Swansbury and Nathan Cummings. Richie Paxton should return to the side after injury.

Chester-le-Street who are at South Shields, have injury doubts over Scott Heslop and Robbie Draper, otherwise they are at full strength.