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BARNARD Castle face an imposing weekend double – meeting Richmondshire in tomorrow's table-topping league encounter before taking on Marske in Sunday's Kerridge Cup final – while their cup opponents should have an easier afternoon tomorrow when they visit Stokesley, currently third from bottom of the premier division.

Barnard Castle have Andy Fleming back, but will be missing Rob Carr. Batsman Sam Wheater, who plays with the under-15s, is promoted.

The two clubs who look most likely to return to the lower division, Billingham Synthonia and Normanby Hall, will continue to find life tough in the run-in. Tomorrow, the Synners are at Great Ayton, who rarely lose on their own ground, while Normanby entertain Darlington, who will be looking for their eighth league win to stay among the top five clubs fighting for championship honours.

If Middlesbrough can find some consistency, they could make a late challenge as championship outsiders. Tomorrow they entertain a Hartlepool side who look to have parted company with Phil Mustard, who has left Durham on loan for the rest of the season.

Much-improved Seaton Carew visit Norton in what could be a very evenly balanced match. Guisborough have the weekend off.

In the 96th Kerridge Cup final, both teams will head to Marton full of confidence. Marske seek their first win after losing the 1983 and 2002 finals, while Barnard Castle were winners two years ago in their first final appearance.

Both teams are in outstanding form in the league. Marske have the season's two most outstanding batsmen in captain Lee Hodgson and Saeed Bin Nasir, while Barney have one of the two top league wicket-takers in James Finch and the third top-scoring batsman in Karl Turner.

Hodgson, who has won Kerridge medals with Marton and Saltburn, has scored 1,158 runs in league and cup matches, while Nasir tops the averages with 1,222 runs. His average is a remarkable 81.47 from 21 innings. Turner is third, with 1,002 runs (league and cup) and next best for Barney is Aussie Lachlan Pfeffer, who has become the club's outstanding overseas amateur. He has made just short of 700 runs in the league. Finch has taken 53 wickets from 183 overs in all competitions, just one behind Richmond's Toby Bulcock, who leads the league averages. Hodgson has taken 27 to lay claim to being the best all-rounder.

Finch said: “We are playing some really exciting cricket at the moment, as our last game showed when we scored 257 to win with wickets and overs in hand. We will respect Marske, who are a very good side, but we have great confidence in our own ability and will be going all out to win what will be only our second-ever major trophy.”

Hodgson said: “It will be a real test of skills, with both teams having exceptional players. We know they're a very talented outfit, but they'll know they'll have had one of their toughest weekends of the season, having to meet us just after taking on Richmondshire in Saturday's league match. Maybe that will put extra strain on them and we might get the benefit."

Barney will have Richard Borrowdale and Josh Bousfield back for the full weekend after missing last Saturday, but farmer Phil Merryweather may miss both games as he may have to harvest wheat rather than runs.

Faizan Hussain will miss the game for Marske as he's been called upon to play for Durham U17s, while a recurring shoulder strain may leave Brett Roberts a spectator.