IT’S bottom versus top today in the Wellstream NTSL with Ryton entertaining champions and league leaders Swalwell.

The strugglers may again have to do without Durham’s Ben Harmison who played in Twenty20 county matches this week. With Durham in action last night and tomorrow it looks doubtful that he will be released by them for this fixture.

Adam Wilkin comes into the Ryton team, with youngster Joe Harms playing for the RGS and therefore unavailable.

It looks like the same again for the leaders with Swalwell fixtures secretary Brian Taylor confirming: “Everybody’s fit and looking forward to pushing on again.

“I think there has been a harder attitude since we slipped up in that one match against Morpeth, and we’re certainly more wary of any potential banana skins.” For the neutrals, last weekend’s rain did the title race a real favour in that it enabled Shotley Bridge to lop 15 points off Swalwell’s lead at the top, which has now been reduced to a very manageable 10.

And a full Bridge squad look to up the championship ante when they travel to Percy Main this afternoon. The home team face selection problems with Carl Ainsworth doubtful with a hand injury, and Michael Boyd, Craig Hall and Graeme Bond definitely out.

Steve Knight and Ryan Sidney-Wilmot return, and Dave Tweed makes his seasonal debut after returning from injury.