It’s derby day in the NYSD, as local rivals lock horns in a series of near neighbour meetings that could define the rest of their season.

And with several intense encounters scheduled for this afternoon, there is also the Kerridge Cup Final replay tomorrow when Great Ayton, grateful for a second crack at the cup, meet with Richmondshire at Marske (1.30pm).

In terms of the derby encounters it’s hard to look beyond the Hurgill Road game for match-of-the-day billing as leaders Richmondshire meet up with second-placed Barnard Castle.

The home team hold a slender seven-point advantage, but Barney will be desperate to improve on a run of form which has seen them win just twice in their last six matches.

The Dalesmen will be missing key off-spinner Craig Marshall, his attendance at a wedding depriving the home team of one half of a deadly spin attack which has claimed over 100 league wickets. But spin twin Toby Bulcock, the league’s leading wicket taker, will be on duty with Craig Swainston back in the side, and Keving Forbes returning from holiday to resume behind the stumps.

Barney are unchanged with their mood ahead of the big game said to be ‘relaxed’.

Vying for the top billing is the SCG game between Stokesley, in third, and the team now just one place below them, Great Ayton. A seven-match unbeaten run, in which five have been won, has lifted Ayton from their early season doldrums to the fringe of the title race, and they hold the psychological advantage of winning two recent league and cup meetings between the sides.

Stokesley have recovered their league composure in recent weeks. After their unbeaten 15-game opening to the campaign the home side lost two in succession, but have followed that blip with three consecutive emphatic victories, which have lifted them to within touching distance of the summit. The hosts bring in Josh Linton for Sam Wilson, while Ayton include David Grainge and Sam Harper.

At Redcar, Marske make the short trip north, and at Hartlepool, Seaton Carew are the visitors, although in each case the contestants have vastly differing agendas.

Pools know anything less than a win could spell the end of their title dreams, and the same goes for Marske, but for their opponents Premier Division survival is the name of the game.

Two wins and a tie have suddenly given bottom club Seaton hope, while nine games without a win have seen Redcar drop into the bottom two.

Also down in the depths, third-bottom Marton seem fated this summer. It appears that not much more could go wrong, but a run of bad luck has now been compounded further by the loss of Alex Wardell who fractured his ankle in a football kickabout.

Ben Hutchinson and Jonny Spillane return for the home derby with Middlesbrough who are missing Paul Johnston and Adil Ditta, although Mattie Connolly return to face his former teammates.

It’s back to Marske again tomorrow for another go at the Kerridge Cup final, the first game washed out after 38 overs with Richmondshire in a dominant position. The Dalesmen had rattled up 244-6 when the rain arrived, a record total for a 40 overs per side Kerridge final, with Mike Layfield’s 137 not out another record.

But the sides start with a clean slate and both squads are at full strength, Craig Marshall returning to the Richmond team after missing today’s league game, and Andy Liddle and John Russell added to Ayton’s line-up to make a 13-man squad from whom the final XI will be chosen.