BARNARD Castle take on Marskse tomorrow in the showpiece Kerridge Cup final.

Both teams head to Marton full of confidence. For Marske it will be their third final (Guisborough in 1983 and Middlesbrough in 2002), but they lost both.

Barnard Castle were winners two years ago, beating Stokesley at Hartlepool’s Park Drive, in their first final appearance.

Both teams are in outstanding form in the league. Marske have the season's two best batsmen, captain Lee Hodgson and Saeed Bin Nasir, in his second year as overseas professional.

Barney have one of the two top league wicket takers, James Finch and the third top-scoring batsman in Karl Turner, who has last week made the season's highest individual score, 180 at Seaton Carew.

Hodgson, who has won the Cup with Marton and Saltburn, has scored 1,158 runs in 20 league and cup matches while Nasir tops the averages – 81.47 from 21 innings.

Karl Turner is third, with 1,002 runs and next best for Barney is Lachlan Pfeffer, an Aussie based schoolmaster, spending a year's sabbatical at the club who has become its outstanding overseas amateur. He has made just short of 700 runs in the league. Finch has 53 wickets from 183 overs in all competitions, one behind Richmond's Toby Bulcock who leads the league averages.

Hodgson has taken 27 to lay claim to being the best all-rounder.

Finch said: “We are playing some really exciting cricket at the moment, as our last game showed when we scored 257 to win with wickets and overs in hand.

“Karl Turner, who got 180 of them, is a class act and we have young players with great talents including James Quinn and Richard Borrowdale, who can change a game in just a matter of overs.

“Josh Bousfield has come through the Durham Academy and is now showing his skills against top opposition. We will respect Marske, but have great confidence in our own ability and will be going all out to win.”

Hodgson, skipper in his first season, will take up the challenge. He said: “It will be a real test of skills with both teams having exceptional players. We know they're very talented but they'll know they'll have had one of their toughest weekends of the season, having to meet us just after taking on Richmondshire.”

Barney have Borrowdale and Bousfield back for the weekend, but Phil Merryweather may miss both games because as a farmer he may have to harvest wheat rather than runs.

Faizan Hussain will miss the game for Marske as he's been called upon to play for Durham Under 17's, while a recurring shoulder strain may make Brett Roberts a spectator.

They meet Richmondshire today, while Marske should, on form, have an easier afternoon when they go to Stokesley, who are third bottom.

Barnard Castle have Andy Fleming back but will be missing Rob Carr. Batsman Sam Wheater, who plays with the under-15s, is promoted.

Stokesley enjoyed a first win in 11 last weekend after sliding close to the relegation places.

The two clubs who look most likely to be heading back to the lower division, Billingham Synthonia and Normanby Hall will continue to find life tough in the run-in.

Synners go to Great Ayton, who rarely lose on their own ground, while Normanby entertain Darlington, who will be looking for their eighth league win to keep them among the top five.

If Middlesbrough, who beat Richmond last weekend in one of the season's shock results, can find some consistency they could make a late challenge as championship outsiders. Today they entertain a Hartlepool side which has parted company with Phil Mustard, who has left Durham for Glamorgan for the rest of the season.

Much-improved Seaton Carew are at Norton. Both clubs have drawn more games than any others.