Marske find themselves sitting on top of the NYSD world after the first week, their overhauled squad impressing in their opening day win at Seaton Carew.

They now face Seaton’s neighbours Hartlepool at Windy Hill Lane after Pools gathered a decent point return last weekend - and like Marske they did so with a new look line-up.

It was a good all-round performance by the Seasiders that brought success, although their two pro’s stood out with Lee Hodgson getting runs and wickets and Saeed Bin Nasir oozing quality in a debut century. Bin Nasir, 35, has a decent pedigree, being only a few runs short of the 10,000 mark in first-class cricket, and he knows English conditions well after playing for ten years for Pilsley in the Derbyshire League where he averaged 1,000 per season.

With Brett Roberts also settling in, and promising young bowler Charlie Helm seizing his opportunity, there looks to be plenty for the Marske faithful to be optimistic about, particularly as New Zealander Ullrich Bishoff is waiting in the wings to show what he can do after not being required to bat last Saturday.

The Kiwi played for Auckland’s under-19 national championship winning side in January.

Hartlepool also have plenty of reasons to be positive. They captured one of the League’s best when they signed Shani Dissanayake, the Sri Lankan having achieved hero status in Richmond where he spent 12 happy years.

And he made an immediate impact by picking up four wickets at the first time of asking, and with another debutant, John Watson, top scoring with 87, and Lewis Stabler given the boost of a trial with Durham this week, this should be an intriguing contest.

Pools are unchanged, but Craig Gratton misses out for the hosts after turning his ankle warming up last week.

Level with Pools in second spot are Barnard Castle, one of the season’s tips to be a leading contender. They were disappointed not to force an outright win against Redcar in their opener, but a 15-point return represented a decent haul given that both their overseas men weren’t available.

Both Aamer Sajjad, back for a third year at Vere Road, and Josh Mason, a 20-year-old who plays first grade cricket in Western Australia, are expected to have arrived in time for today’s trip to newly-promoted Norton. Ironically, it’s Ben Usher who makes way - in his younger days Usher was an outstanding player for the Teesside club.

The feature of Barney’s first game was a century from Simon Tennant, which followed a tremendous 2014 for the young Yorkshireman. Hosts Norton performed well at Acklam Park last week, but they will be missing one of their principle attacking weapons with Peter Armstrong in London to run the marathon. Lee Dalby deputises.

Guisborough found much to be positive about from their opener against Great Ayton, with Karl Turner excelling. The Priorymen were missing a few players in the derby, but Graham and Ryan Murray, along with Brad Passmore, play which means they will be just Graeme Wrightson short of their full strength line-up when they go to Seaton Carew. Their hosts are also boosted by the inclusion of Danny Evans who missed the opener – Danny Black steps down.

Champions Darlington miss the unavailable Paul Freary and Tom Sowerby for the Feethams clash with Marton, so Callum Lethbridge and Sam Hardy are called up, Sam set to face younger brother Jack who now keeps wicket for the Teessiders. Matty Hutchinson takes brother Ben’s place in the Marton team.

Josh Thompson and Sam Harper replace the unavailable David Grainge and Andrew Liddle in the Great Ayton side to play Middlesbrough, who include Adil Ditta. Neil Russell misses Redcar’s home game against Richmondshire so Adam Pickard moves up, and Normanby Hall have to reckon without Chris Trillo and Henry Blackett for their trip to Stokesley, who are uncertain whether Shrikant Wagh will arrive to play after further visa delays.