Durham Senior League: With the programme reaching its halfway stage this afternoon only 23 points separate the top five sides, with Hetton Lyons the only unbeaten team.

The Lyons entertain struggling Horden today. Although their two front line bowlers, Nadeem Khan and Andrew Robson, are consistently taking wickets, the Horden batting leaves much to be desired.

Khan had five for 16 last week, but even the Horden professional is not as penetrative as in recent summers. Andrew Dixon is missing today.

Hetton Lyons are minus skipper Steve Errington, so Sean Birbeck will lead the side. Birbeck is 16 runs short of 500 and has his sights fixed on reaching 1,000.

Slow bowler Owen Gwyn makes his debut for Hetton Lyons and Lee Cowan is home from university.

Leaders Whitburn have a tough fixture at champions Burnmoor. They are without all rounder Paul Cook and also Michael Smith. Peter Marshall and Eden Elstob step up.

Burnmoor, who have progressed through June unbeaten, expect to be able to field the same side. This means that former Whitburn player Chris Ellison, who has been in fine form, will play against his former club.

Eppleton, who have batted first in their last six games, travel to draw specialists Boldon. They are without both their captain and vice-captain. Skipper Lee Welch hopes to have the plaster cast removed from his damaged hand this week, but full recovery will take time.

Deputy Graham Anderson is also absent, so Shaun Bradbury leads a team that sees Elliott Hughes returning. Hughes' last bowling stint at South Shields, when he took six for 22, was instrumental in Eppleton winning.

Marsden, after their workmanlike win last week, will be hoping for two in a row when they host Seaham Harbour. David Wills will be a big miss for Marsden. John Stobbart is also absent and Mark Scott and Martin Quinn come into the team.

Seaham brothers Andrew and Matthew Young miss the game, but a bonus for the Harbour is the inclusions of Neil Swainston and promising youngster Scott Sheriff.

South Shields welcome back vice-captain Neil Dixon, but are still without skipper Michael Fishwick. Greg Marshall is included to bolster the batting. Out of the team are Alan Stevenson and David Robson.

Opponents Felling will still be reflecting upon their dramatic tie at Whitburn when Gareth Wright and young Paul Leonard starred.

Captain Wright is leading by example and his 134 at Whitburn was his second big 100 so far having hit two more than this on the opening day.

South Hetton could really come into contention for a top spot if they beat Durham City and other results go their way. Len Houghton replaces David Wilkinson in a game they would expect to win.

City are without Matthew Dobson and give a debut to Kieron Kumar. Already well entrenched at the bottom Durham need a good return from this game to keep them in touch with teams above them.

The Foster's Durham Senior League entertain the Mansfield and District League at Felling tomorrow in the Cedric Rhodes Cup.

Team: C Ellison (Burnmoor), J Dunn, P Shields (both Whitburn), A Robson (Horden), M Muchall, J Wightman (both South Shields), R Birbeck (South Hetton), L Lowther (Eppleton), R Potter, P Shakespeare (both Boldon), G Wright (Felling).

* In The Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League, it's first versus second when Ashington host Swalwell at the halfway stage of the season this afternoon.

The Colliers move into pole position with victory over Leadgate last weekend when Swalwell lost for only the second time. Nine points separate the pair, with Leadgate and Newcastle City also in contention.

Ashington are again without early batsman Stuart Tiffen, while Swalwell welcome the return of Jason Dumighan for the unavailable Mark Rowell.

Leadgate have the opportunity to move back into second if they defeat Annfield Plain. They show one alteration with Alan Reeve coming in for Lee Innes. Annfield Plain have lost professional Nakitta Miller who has been called into the West Indies A team to tour Sri Lanka.

Newcastle City lost for the first time in eight when they went down to Benwell and Walbottle last Saturday and need to rediscover form at Burnopfield today.

City expect to have their strongest side on duty while Burnopfield again miss Durham County's Neil Killeen, who has so far been available to play just once when he scored an unbeaten 97.

Benwell and Walbottle upset the form book in a big way last Saturday. They went into their match at Newcastle City having lost nine consecutive games, but ended easy winners which will give them confidence that they can avoid the drop.

They are still at the basement, however, and require another good result at second from bottom Lanchester, whose South African professional Musugata Bosman has had to return home because of an ankle injury which it is expected will prevent him from playing for three months. Pakistani batsman Rizlam Aslam replaces him.

Unchanged Sacriston go to Shotley Bridge and their hosts are stronger with the return of David Love and David Golightly.