Marton face arguably the most important weekend in their recent history with two difficult away matches in two days set to define the rest of their season.

It is ten years since Marton won promotion to the Premier Division, and they have quickly established themselves as one of the top ranking clubs, their magnificent facilities and ground being backed up by some outstanding performances on the field.

Two league championships, four Kerridge wins, and two Macmillans is an impressive haul, but this summer the team have struggled. They have dropped dropping into the bottom two, 16 points adrift of safety.

After finishing in mid-table in 2014 they suffered a difficult close-season with the loss of several key players– Lee Hodgson moved to Marske, Neil Russell and Chris Veazey went to Redcar, and Aussie Sam Jones didn’t return.

It had been hoped that Sri Lankan Hasantha Fernando would go a long way to filling that fairly large hole given that he has two Test Match appearances amongst an impressive first-class record, but 247 league runs at an average of 27, and 21 wickets at an average of 26, represents a relatively modest return, although it hasn’t helped that he has had to cope as the sole professional following the short-lived stay of Alex Roberts.

However, the recent signing of Tom Urwin from relegation rivals Redcar has lifted spirits. The batsman has almost 7,000 league runs under his belt, including two seasons in which he surpassed 1,000, so he should boost a batting line-up that has not yet clicked, with Jonny Spillane the leading run-maker with 264.

Marton’s weekend double couldn’t be much tougher. They go to the SCG today to take on a Stokesley team who are buzzing after their emphatic victory over Richmondshire last week, and who are the only remaining unbeaten side in the top flight, while tomorrow they make the short trip to Acklam Park for a derby against Middlesbrough.

They show just the one change this week with Dave McCabe returning, while Stokesley bring in quick bowler James Harding and David Weighell to replace the unavailable Mikey Howe and Tom Preece, the latter having transferred to Seaton Carew.

Boro, who start their double at Norton, have to reckon without Gary Burgum, but Michael Cook is back and Paul Johnston will keep wicket.

Norton have lost six of their last eight league games, but with the other two ending in victories they have managed to keep above the relegation zone, although they have played a game more than the three teams below. They miss Patrick Mitchell this week who fractured a finger taking a boundary catch in the last match, and keeper Chris Dunwell is also an absentee. A decision on their replacements has been delayed.

The match of the day in terms of the championship is at Feethams where Darlington entertain close rivals Richmondshire. They have dominated the title race for the last three years, but while they are third and second respectively they are not the forces they used to be. The pair lost just three games combined in the whole of last season, but this time around they have each lost three with just half the campaign gone.

They both go into the game on the back of comprehensive defeats last time out, the Dalesmen currently in their worst run of form for several seasons with three losses in their last five matches.

Quakers will be missing James Dobson so Adam Baldwin is drafted in to keep wicket, while Richmond stick with the same side that lost at Stokesley.

Leaders Barnard Castle don’t play until tomorrow. They make the trek to Redcar with Ben Usher back in, but their hosts have had a big shake-up, making five changes – in come Harris Abdullah, Tim Hood, Jonathan Cooper, Mike Rix and Tyler Easton.

Callum Prosser makes a welcome return from injury when Hartlepool host Normanby Hall, the visitors hoping to include new signing Chris Witherley who has returned to the club after several years with Great Ayton, Marske give fitness tests to Josh Carroll and Brett Roberts ahead of their home game against a Seaton Carew side that includes new signing Preece from Stokesley, and Great Ayton bring in Sam Harper when they host rivals Guisborough who include Kiwi Logan Smart and Tom Gittins in their starting X1.