The first big cup occasion of the season is scheduled for tomorrow when Guisborough host the Hotel Tall Trees Macmillan Cup Finals day.

Four teams battle it out to win the honour of representing the NYSD in the last 32 of the national T20 competition which has its finals day at Edgbaston in front of the Sky TV cameras.

And a large crowd is anticipated for the all-action day which is laced with a real derby flavour as cup kings Great Ayton tackle fierce rivals Stokesley in the day's opening semi-final which starts at 10am.

Ayton's recent record in knock-out cricket is quite remarkable. Apart from this being their third consecutive finals day appearance in the Macmillan they have the distinction of reaching eight finals in the last four years, with this trophy already numbered amongst their four successes in that time.

Just a fortnight ago the match would have been regarded as a foregone conclusion as Stokesley were rooted to the foot of the league table, winless after almost two months of cricket.

Instead, a great four-run victory over league leaders Darlington at Feethams in the Macmillan sparked them into life, and they followed up with three more emphatic wins in four days, including a league thumping of Great Ayton last Sunday.

Ayton went into that game under prepared and defeat saw them drop from second to fourth in the league table. They surely won't make the same mistake again with a full squad at their disposal, and with Stokesley on a roll the game has all the hallmarks of a classic T20 confrontation.

South African speed merchant Brandon Viret has been one of the main reasons behind Stokesley's resurgence, moving up to second place in the league wicket-taking list with some incisive performances highlighted by a ferocious opening spell at Leven Park last Sunday. He will lead the Stokesley attack again in a side missing just one player, Josh Linton being replaced by Andy Oliver.

Guisborough are the cup holders, and with home advantage it will take something special to prize the trophy out of their hands.

They face Richmondshire in the second semi-final starting at 1.30pm, and another tantalising derby match lies in wait if the Priorymen can reach the final again.

But Richmond are ideally suited to the fast paced T20 format, boasting arguably the best fielding side in the league. And with one of the very best fielders around, Gary Pratt, requesting his release from Minor Counties duties the Dalesmen expect to be at full strength with Craig Swainston also featuring.

Richmond are second in the league table, and Guisborough are just two points behind them in third place, so there is unlikely to be much to choose between the sides with the hosts including Dan Allinson as keeper in place of Graeme Wrightson who didn't play in the earlier rounds due to work commitments.

The gates at Fountains Garth open at 9am, with the final now due to start at 5pm to prevent any dilemmas for spectators also wanting to take in the England v Italy Euro 2012 quarter-final later in the evening.

If the weather proves the winner in a summer where it has so far held the soggy upper hand on virtually every weekend, a reserve date of July 1 has been set aside to complete the competition.

Away from the Macmillan finals there's some serious league action this afternoon with table-toppers Darlington visiting Great Ayton where the home team include Sam Harper for the wedding bound Matt Wilkinson.

Lee Hutton is expected to be free from work commitments to strengthen the Quakers batting line-up that wobbled alarmingly last time out.

Two unchanged sides take the field at Billingham where Richmond are the visitors, while Guisborough and Stokesley take part in a possible cup final rehearsal, the home team promoting Chris Norminton in place of the unavailable Jon Coates.

At the other end of the table Sedgefield's slide into bottom place makes their game at Marske doubly important.

Richie Hawthorne will captain the side as the horrendous weather of this summer has meant that farmer Phil Heslop has had to hand over the reins to catch up with a backlog of work. The team includes new signing Ben Thompson from Bishop Auckland.