The battle for survival has taken on an intriguing twist with one of the teams struggling in the relegation zone able to parade a substitute professional after losing their original overseas man to the Sri Lankan Premier League for the month of August.

The departure of Indika de Saram from Thornaby left the club with a problem, but after hours of research and numerous phone calls, they will hand a debut to their new signing today.

Thornaby occupy one of the relegation slots, and a derby against revitalised Middlesbrough provides a baptism of fire for Nadeem Malik.

The Nottingham-born player doesn't quite have the first-class pedigree of de Saram, but with spells at Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire under his belt he doesn't lack experience.

The 6ft 5in paceman has taken 235 first-class wickets in his 90-game career to date.

It will be interesting to see whether Malik can extract any bounce from a Mandale Bottoms pitch that continues to suffer more than most from waterlogging and was out of action once again in midweek.

Boro are on a bit of a high after beating top three teams in their last two outings.

Normanby Hall had hoped to be in the same position after Janaka Gunaratne's departure for the same tournament as de Saram almost a month ago, but red tape looks like foiling their ability to bring someone in before today's game at Leven Park against Great Ayton.

But the Hall do have Isra Hussain back while their hosts have to reckon without David Grainge through work commitments. Tom Leng and Mattie Wilkinson are drafted in.

It's been quite a week for the villagers. Last Sunday's trip to Oulton for the national T20 northern finals was spoilt by the weather, but not before Ayton had easily disposed of Blackburn side Great Harwood in the semi-final to set up a meeting with giants Chester-le-Street.

That game was washed out halfway through and the teams meet again at Leven Park tomorrow (2pm) to determine who will make it to the last eight nationally.

Two days later Ayton were at Richmond for the Premier Fifteens semi-final and swept past their table topping opponents to make it a staggering tenth major cup final in the last five seasons.

Richmond won't mind that too much providing they can tie up the title in the final seven games.

The Dalesmen went top last week and take a four-point lead into their home game against Stokesley who need points for a different reason.

Lewis Stabler, on Yorkshire Academy duty, remains the only absentee for the home team, while the visitors are unchanged.

With the weight of leadership now off Darlington's shoulders it will be interesting to see their reaction when they tackle Hartlepool at Feethams.

Both are missing key players, notably in the Quakers case skipper Peter Armstrong who is in Greece for his brother's wedding.

Armstrong's spin has been central to the balance of the Darlington attack which has carried them to many successes this summer, and he tops the amateur bowling rankings at the moment.

Vice-skipper James Dobson is back from holiday so takes on the captaincy, and with Jack Vickerman also missing Peter Barker earns promotion.

Hartlepool have to reckon without the league's leading run scorer. Neil Coverdale has been in stupendous form in recent weeks, shooting to the top of the run list with scores of 78, 66, 92 and 102 in his last four league outings, so the fact he is on holiday is a blow to mid-table Pool who are able to include the returning Tyler Temple.

Josh Bousfield and Ben Usher miss Barnard Castle's home game against a Guisborough side minus Martin Hood, Sedgefield look as though they will have to cope without promising young bowler Adam Randall for the rest of the season because of injury, although Dave Cross is back for the game against Marton.

Marske have Richie Evans and Josh Carroll lined up to play in the crucial Windy Hill Lane relegation battle against a Billingham side missing Mike Yuill and Adam Warnes.