Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake says that his players need to get back to basics as soon as possible at Heaton Stannington on Saturday.

Confusion reigns over how many clubs will be promoted from the Second Division to the First at the end of the season, and the clubs chasing top two Thornaby and Billingham Town, are hoping that third place might just mean promotion when the FA sit down at the end of the season.

Chester are currently fourth in the table, two points behind Northallerton, and Wake said; “Heaton is always a tough place to go, and all we are looking for is a response to the poor performance of last week against Crook, when we were dismal at best.”

Owen Lancaster, Harry Wood, Jack Oliver and Andrew Clarkson will all be missing.

In the first division, Bishop Auckland are at home to bottom club Penrith.

Bishops are currently in second place, seven points behind leaders Dunston, but more importantly two ahead of third placed Consett.

Manager Ian Chandler said; “This game could be very tricky, because Penrith have signed several of their old players whilst they beat Stockton comfortably last week. We must perform to our best this weekend, hoping to build a gap between us and Consett.”

Keeper Nick Liversedge and defender Callum Munro will both have fitness tests.

Bishops will be hoping for a favour from neighbours West Auckland, who are at Dunston UTS.

However, they are weakened by the absence of several players – Anthony Bell, Nathan Fisher, Liam Hegarty, Dan Parker, Alex Francis and Amar Purewal – and manager Gary Forrest said; “It’s a tough game against the leaders, but the pressure is on them to get a result.”

Bishops will also be hoping for a favour from Shildon, who reached the final of the Durham Challenge Cup in midweek, and are at home to third placed Consett.

Midfielder David Palmer and defender Dale Mulligan are both out injured, otherwise manager Danny Moore chooses from a full squad. “Reaching the Durham Challenge Cup final will give us a new lease of life. We want to finish as high as we can,” said Moore.

Newton Aycliffe continue to look over their shoulders at the bottom three, and they need the points at home to Ashington.

Manager Colin Stromsoy is missing several players, especially in midfield, and said; “This is a proverbial six pointer, and Ashington proved against Seaham that they’re still a very good team and we’ll have to be right at it to get a result.

“I’m looking forward to seeing a good friend and former colleague at Team North, Paul Anthony, a true Northern League pro.”

In the other games, Stockton are at home to bottom club Whickham, while Guisborough go to Newcastle Benfield.

In the second division, Northallerton, who are in third, are at Easington. Kieran McWaters and Richie Walker will both be missing, but Chris Emms and Josh Keogh both return.

Crook Town are looking to stretch their winning run to seven matches at home to West Allotment.

Manager Jamie Tunstall said; “West Allotment will pose a different threat to previous weeks as they’re a young, fit and energetic side, They’re good going forward so we’ll have to be at our best defensively again like we have been of late. We’re desperate to keep putting points on the board and climbing the table.”

Daniel Maddison and Joe Peel both return to the Crook squad, but manager Jamie Tunstall is likely to choose an unchanged side. Crook are currently ninth in the table.

Bottom club Durham City are at Tow Law, and hoping to pick up a much-needed victory.

They won their last game, at Billingham Town, and manager Billy Harper said; “We go into the game with some renewed confidence and hopefully build on the great result at Billingham.”

Tow Law, who are third bottom, expect to be at full strength except for Jamie Hayman, who is injured.

The game of the day is between second placed Thornaby and leaders Billingham Town, with just two points separating the two sides.