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BARNARD Castle will be unchanged at home to Great Ayton tomorrow, needing 14 points from their two remaining games to clinch the league title.

Skipper James Finch said it would be great to do it in front of their own supporters tomorrow, when they expect their biggest crowd for many seasons. He said: “I considered Great Ayton rather than ourselves as the title favourites before the season began, but we have played some really good cricket and had a great season.”

Ayton make one change, with David Grainge returning at the expense of Henry Shelton. Skipper Chris Batchelor thinks there will be a few more twists and turns in the season's final games. His team is involved in what he calls a “new mini-competition with Marske and Richmondshire to represent the league in the already much-publicised new inter-league club competition.” This involves four teams – one from each of the Yorkshire Premier Leagues – with the final played in Abu Dhabi.

Billingham Synthonia travel to Seaton Carew and have Adam Greenwell returning, but Paul Duck is unavailable through work. After their first win in 11 games on Monday, they have opened up the chance of avoiding relegation, but skipper Mike Atkinson still thinks that winning one, if not both, of their final two games, which they may need to do, is “a tall order.”

Stokesley, now just 17 points ahead of Billingham and with 50 points available to all teams, are now seriously close to being one of the two teams to be relegated and they travel to Middlesbrough.

Normanby Hall travel to Norton and have Jordan Leech returning to the squad. They also won last weekend and are now just 13 points, rather than the previous 33, behind Stokesley. Like Billingham, they know they will possibly have to win both of their final games to make sure of staying in the top division.

Darlington visit Guisborough and have to win to keep their slim title chances alive. They are without Sam Hardy (working) and Nathan Wright (on holiday), who are replaced by Alex Simpson and Jack Hardy.

The Priorymen's Chris Nicholls, who broke his left hand in a fielding mishap last weekend, is still likely to play despite the injury. He said: “It's not my bowling arm.”

Marske are missing Fez Hussain, but Gary Lynch returns. Skipper Lee Hodgson said: “We have lost the last five tosses of the coin and have had the misfortune to have to bat on sticky wickets which have dried out and become easier to handle in the second half of games.”

They've lost four of these last five and blown the chance of winning the championship. They are on the road to Richmondshire, who are again unchanged.

In division one, Marton, who were relegated from the premier division last season, are looking to bounce straight back at the first attempt. They lead Bishop Auckland by 26 points and are at the SCG, while Bishops entertain Richmondshire at Kingsway. Thornaby are 41 points behind Marton, but have a crucial game in hand and they travel to Great Ayton.