At the wrong end of the Dukes ECB North East Premier League table, bottom club Sacriston are 24 points from safety and they have a tough game at home to Benwell Hill.

Daniel Anderson, Callum Appleby and Graham Hubber return, while skipper and wicketkeeper Graeme Wrightson is missing, as Dominic Scott drops to the seconds.

Eppleton are second bottom and host Whitburn. Piers Davison is replaced by David Wilkinson. For Whitburn, Martin Muchall, Paul Shields and Craig Smith are unavailable. Philip Bell captains the team.

Hetton Lyons welcome third-bottom Newcastle, and visiting skipper Phil Hudson said: “The Lyons are going well and it’s a difficult place to go to and win, but if the team can put together a performance, there is a good chance they can do move into mid-table.

Chester-le-Street in second, travel to Felling and will be without Quentin Hughes, but George Harrison returns. Skipper John Coxon said: “We are looking forward to the game and we clawed a few points back on South North last weekend, and it’s still all to play for.”

Felling official Barry Norman remarked: “We are unchanged, and no-one is pretending that this week will be anything but difficult, but the return fixture finished as a draw, so let’s hope the side can go one better.”

The Durham Cricket Academy are at Stockton and keep the same side that scraped a draw last week.

In the Northumberland and Tyneside Cricket League, Shotley Bridge are now 32 points behind the leaders in third after four winless games, and host Alnmouth & Lesbury.

Lanchester travel to second-placed Consett and home skipper Gary Hunter said: “It’s the same team, as all players are available as the team continues its rich vein of form.”

Readers Durham Cricket League front-runners Easington can go a long way to cementing their title ambitions, by beating second-placed Crook at home. Secretary Peter Booth said: “Rob Atherton is absent, but Gary Ward returns. We need to win this crucial game to increase our lead over them.”

Crook Secretary Alan Stewart said: “There will be some changes, as Will Barnham is absent and a couple of others may also be missing. This is a big game, we slipped up last Saturday against Durham City with a poor performance.”

Evenwood, second in Division Two, travel to third-placed Ryhope, with 16 points separating both teams in their quest for the other promotion slot. Secretary Luke Bannister said: “Our team will be unchanged after a bad result last weekend. We need to win this to stay ahead of Ryhope and close the gap on leaders Ushaw Moor.’’