CHRIS Harris returns to the Lancashire League tomorrow with the job of halting Nelson's challenge for the title.

He is one of six sub professionals drafted in by clubs for a bustling double header weekend that will take the league up to the halfway point.

Harris was on Ramsbottom's books from 1995 to 1997 and is best known for his exploits for Canterbury and New Zealand, for whom he has scored 777 Test runs.

Tomorrow the 33-year-old is destined for Enfield, who will take on leaders Nelson in a programme that reverses the fixtures from just two weeks ago.

Then, Enfield hosted Nelson as leaders, but went down to a defeat which allowed the Seedhill side to take over at the top, where they've resided since.

Lowerhouse and Haslingden will also have sub professionals in their ranks when they clash at Liverpool Road.

Pakistani Kashif Siddiq, 21, is the left hand batsman and left break bowler that Lowerhouse have recruited and he will be squaring up to West Indian Otis Gibson, who is likely to be Hassy's permanent pro for Saturday games in the remainder of the season.

Haslingden beat Lowerhouse in the first clash between the two a fortnight ago, but their derby defeat to Bacup on Sunday was their first loss in eight games.

Cricket committee chairman Stuart Taylor said: "It's not ideal when you have to get pros in because you want stability, but the lads we've had have done well and we'd won seven on the bounce until last weekend.

"It's at practice when the pros are missed because they can't take part in the drills, that's the down side. But apart from that it's going well."

Ian Austin will be Hassy's sub pro at home to Rishton on Sunday, when Lowerhouse go to Nelson with Clinton Perren as their paid man.

The 28-year-old is a graduate of the Australian Cricket Academy, plays for Queensland and is a right hand bat, right arm medium pace bowler.

Enfield's sub pro on Sunday will be West Indies' Franklyn Rose, who appeared for them last weekend.

Second placed Bacup will also be banking on maximum points to keep the pressure on Nelson when they go to Rishton on Saturday then host Todmorden on Sunday.