Newton Aycliffe manager Colin Stromsoy has told his players to keep their focus for their local derby at West Auckland.

Aycliffe badly need to win in order to have a chance of reducing the eight point gap on the promotion places, and Stromsoy said; “It’s a tough game, as West have one of the best home records of any team in our division.

“They have a very able and experienced squad and we know that we must keep our focus and to be at our best to take something from the game.”

Ryan Coles, Adam Burnicle and Lewis Walton are all doubtful.

West Auckland, meanwhile, are without Chris Hunter because of injury, while Tom Price is unavailable. They include new signing Leon Scott, who has come from Marske and won several honours with Darlington.

Manager Gary Forrest said; “It’s a big derby game, and both teams need three points.”

Shildon, who are third, are at home to Whitley Bay, and will give a debut to loan signing Michael Sweet, who arrived last week from Blyth. He will probably come in for Billy Greulich-Smith, who is unavailable.

Manager Danny Moore said; “We are just taking it one game at a time, Whitley Bay always seem to put on a performance against the teams at the top end of the table, and I anticipate a difficult game.”

League leaders Stockton Town defend their unbeaten home record against sixth placed Guisborough in their local derby, but they will be missing striker Jamie Owens, although midfielder Peter Bulmer returns. Manager Micky Dunwell said; “After last week’s great win at Consett, we go into the game full of confidence.”

Guisborough have injury doubts over Paul Young and Steve Roberts, and manager Gary Forster said; “We respect Stockton and they are the best side in the division, but we certainly don't fear them. “ Third bottom Northallerton are at Ashington, and need the points to climb away from the bottom spot, one point below them.

Bishop Auckland are at home to fourth placed North Shields.

Bishops, who only have eight games left, are currently in midtable, and will be close to full strength, as Kyle Fryatt and Michael Hoganson have both recovered from flu, and Kyle Morris has recovered from a head injury.

Manager Ian Chandler said; “We expect a very tough game but not one we cannot win, performances recently other than our last home game v Guisborough have been encouraging with the younger players contributing quite a bit.”

There’s another Teesside derby between bottom club Thornaby and eighth placed Billingham Town.

Thornaby will give a debut to former Marske and Whitby midfielder Brad Plant, while Town have signed teenage striker Lucas Bell from Darlington and will probably make his debut.

Thornaby manager Craig Haley said; “We have eleven derbies starting today.”

In the second division, third placed Crook Town go to Newcastle University, and manager Jamie Tunstall will have a full squad to choose from. Crook are six points ahead of fifth place, and Tunstall said; “This league throws different challenges at you every week and Newcastle University will be no different.

“Very much a tough test, more so as you never really know what to expect from them. We'll be expecting the side that have beaten West Allotment away and ourselves twice in league and cup. They were very well organised in both games this season, so we'll have to be patient and we'll have to take our chances as well as defending well.”

Second in the table Redcar are at Birtley, and they will be missing Lee Bythway and Adam Preston.

Tow Law, who are eighth are at home to Easington, and could go fourth if they win and other results go in their favour.

Second bottom Brandon are at home to Ryton and Crawcrook, and they have no injury problems.

Esh Winning are at league leaders West Allotment, and they welcome back Scott Arnott after a knee injury, but they will be missing top scorer Channon North, Callum Boakes and Kevin Dixon. Matty Allison and Jayven Redman are also added to the squad.

Willington are at home to Chester-le-Street, who will have a full squad to choose from, and manager Colin Wake said; “Willington’s pitch will be heavy at best so we may have to go back to basics and play the ball in the right areas and not take too many risks in the middle of the park. We are after an improvement after the last time out, but we have trained well and been upbeat over the last couple of weeks.”

Billingham Synthonia, who are sixth, face Bedlington at Station Road, and they expect to be at full strength Bottom of the table Durham City, who have won only twice this season, are at Jarrow, and they will give a debut to full back Cameron Holliday, who has previously been at Crook and Darlington and Bermudan striker Tehvan Tyrrell.

Two Northern League clubs are hoping to reach the semi finals of the Buildbase FA Vase for the first time in their histories on Saturday.

Hebburn, who have won three successive away ties to get this far at Lower Breck, Vauxhall Motors and Longridge, are at home to Plymouth Parkway from the South Western League, who beat West Auckland in the last round.

Leading scorer Graeme Armstrong suffered a broken jaw in the last round, and is almost certain to miss the game.

Consett face a tricky away tie at Atherstone in the Midlands. Atherstone have been thrown into controversy recently following a number of alleged racism incidents, which have seen their manager and secretary resign.