WHILE most attention inevitably centres around the leading sides, there is an intriguing bottom of the table clash today that is crucial to both teams and has the added extra spice of new faces on both sides.

Rock-bottom Saltburn go into their home fixture with Normanby Hall, the club just above them, invigorated by the fact that they have been able to bring in an England qualified professional after lengthy negotiations.

Manohaar Sehmbi is a left arm spinner and right hand bat who played in the Kent League last season, and the Huddersfield League so far this year.

The club are also hopeful their registered overseas professional could make it in time for the game after a protracted paperwork hold up that has affected a number of professionals in the area this season.

Yogesh Galwalker is a right arm leg spinner and left hand bat from India who played in the Bolton League last season. Lee Hodgson will be missing as he has returned to Lord's to rejoin MCC Young Cricketers.

Normanby Hall are feeling uncomfortable after five straight defeats. They have also been making efforts to re invigorate their squad and have signed Keith Martin from Billingham.

The left armer, who can be devastating in the right conditions, has a proven bowling pedigree. But the acquisition has been tempered by the realisation that Dave Cross will be out for up to eight weeks with an Achilles injury suffered in the defeat at Northallerton last week.

Level on points with Normanby Hall are Darlington who will still crucially be missing Neil Pratt through injury. They hope to make the most of home advantage when they take on high-flying Marton at Feethams today.

The visitors are without free-scoring Chris Lane for this one although Dean Kirby returns after injury.

Marton are delighted with a start that sees them hanging on to the leader's coat tails - they sit just four points behind Northallerton who have a tough fixture at Richmondshire.

They have to do without John Sample and Richard Chandler who have both been in the wickets recently, but skipper Liam Botham and Mark Cowell return.

Middlesbrough are on the crest of a wave after four successive wins but they will not find it easy at Hartlepool where Michael Gough has been in supreme form with the bat. Amer Ditta comes into the Boro line up in place of Ben Hutchinson.

Guisborough entertain Redcar without the services of skipper Richard Dunn who sustained a broken finger in the last game and could be out for a couple of weeks. Dave Rixon and Andy Hassack come into the Redcar team in place of Steve Lee and Anthony Smith.

Bishop Auckland expect to have a full-strength side out for their home game with Marske as Amol Muzumdar has now arrived, and Guy Wilkes is back after his rallying exploits. Colin Haslett and Steve Larkins miss out for Marske, with Gary Lynch and Mike Walton drafted in.

Blackhall play Great Ayton just one week after the pairs' tight draw at Leven Park. Tony Booth is still absent from the home side due to work commitments, and Phil Bell is drafted in to replace veteran Richard Watts.

A pattern is developing in Division One where Thornaby hold a nine point lead over Seaton Carew, with Billingham Synthonia and Darlington RA starting to get a head of steam up.

The latter two clash at Billingham today with Thornaby going to Normanby Hall and Seaton entertaining Barnard Castle.