Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League: Bottom club Norton can play out the remainder of the season without the cloud of relegation hanging over them.

League secretary Keith Telford is concerned that no club have applied to join the competition, which is good news for the Teessiders.

Norton though could hardly have wished for a more difficult test than to meet high-flying Durham Academy this morning.

Geoff Cook's youngsters are pressing South Northumberland all the way for the championship having lost just once in 16 outings.

Despite winning two games more than Tynemouth, Norton are a point adrift of the Seasiders at the basement and today cannot call upon Chris Fawcett or Stephen Purciver. Ben Wickling will start his first game of the season.

He played for the club a few years ago before moving away, but is now living in the area again. All rounder Andrew Tait is also included in Kenny Gresham's side as is Siddharth Verma, recently signed as Norton's overseas player. Philadephia's new captain Lee Beaumont, who last season played for Middlesbrough, is pleased with the progress his side have made during the few weeks he has been in charge. He said: "I thought we battled well holding leaders South Northumberland to a draw last Saturday.

"At one stage we were in with a chance of victory with Freddie Napier and Jim Allenby going well. When they both lost their wickets we had to work hard but the lads showed resolve and I don't think anybody would have denied us a share of the spoils."

Paul Riddle, signed from Hetton Lyons, plays his second game after making a useful debut last weekend. Also included is Durham County's Nicky Phillips, but Darren McKitterick and talented youngster Luke Anderson cannot play. Their replacements for the home game with Sunderland are Carl Miller and John Grant.

Former Middlesex and Durham County opener Michael Roseberry has played only a few games for Sunderland after joining them for the start of the season.

He is in a benefit year with Middlesex and is again absent this morning when the visitors also miss another ex-Durham player, Simon Brown.

Andrew Pratt is named and so too is young Greg Applegarth, whose father Adam captained Sunderland to the championship in 2002.

Leaders South Northumberland, a healthy 27 points ahead of Durham Academy, make the short journey to Benwell Hill, last season's champions.

The Hill, however, have never rediscovered the form they showed last year and there is no doubt they have missed captain Phil Nicholson, who broke a leg in a freak pre-match warm-up.

Stockton host Blaydon hoping to consolidate third. They have Simon Davison taking over from Michael Wood while Blaydon are unchanged, still unable to call upon wicketkeeper David Sherrington, who has missed several games after suffering an injury to his neck.

A boost for the Tynesiders is the news that Durham's Graham Onions is fully fit and will be able to deliver the maximum 20 overs if called upon.

Chester-le-Street, in fourth, have Tynemouth as visitors to Ropery Lane. The Seasiders have won just once, fewer than any other side and continue to struggle near the bottom.

Chris Beaver for Robbie Herdman is their only change at Ropery Lane. Newcastle captain Wayne Ritzema is 'over the moon' at the progress his side has shown this season and especially during recent weeks.

Newcastle, who play Gateshead Fell today, claimed their biggest win in four years, defeating Norton last weekend when openers Ryan Phillimore and Ritzema both scored unbeaten centuries.

Ritzema said: "We feel we can take any side on nowadays.

"We are batting well and in Alex Brown I consider we have the fastest non-professional bowler in the league.

"He came to us from Stocksfield a couple of years ago; bowls quick and straight and fully deserved to be included in the Northumberland side for their game earlier in the week."