IT'S now or never for Claude Henderson as he looks to guide East Lancashire to their first Transco Lancashire League title for 10 years.

East Lancs went into today's game against Enfield joint top of the table with Bacup and four points clear of Ramsbottom with just one round of games to come tomorrow.

The Alexandra Meadows side also have home advantage against Lowerhouse in the second leg of the double-header, while Bacup travel to Burnley.

But if East Lancs can't make the advantage count and the joint leaders are still level pegging by tomorrow night, Henderson will miss the play-off or play-offs -- which could yet involve three teams -- to decide the title next weekend.

The left-arm spinner is booked to fly back to South Africa on Tuesday and is expected to report to his provincial side Western Province for a meeting on Wednesday. Western Province then set off for a pre-season tour next Sunday and the East Lancs pro confirmed: "This is it. I have no chance of staying on another week, so I will just have to do my best."

Henderson's 78 league wickets have been a key part of East Lancs' title challenge and the Blackburn club will be anxious to try and win the championship with him in their side.

Having won the title in 1980 and 1990 the omens may be on their side, although Henderson admits they still have a big job to do to go one better than last season when they finished second to Nelson.

He said: "If you think about it, finishing runners-up twice isn't bad but it would be nice to lift the silverware. It would be nice for me, but for the team and the club as well. But there's a long way to go.

"Obviously we know that with two games left we've got to win them and probably the extra two points will come into it.

"We'll see afterwards what's happened elsewhere today but we will be thinking about our own game and the only thing we are thinking about is the first game.

"Enfield have got a good professional in Dave Saker, who can change a game at any time. We will have to be very alert and not think that it's easy.

"Every game this season has been hard. We know what to do to win the game. We just have to go out and do it."

Bacup will still probably be kicking themselves for letting slip a winning position at East Lancs a month ago.

But Henderson insisted that game isn't where the title will have been won and lost. "There have been a few surprises this season and there have been a few ups and downs. You can always say if this and if that, but what happens this weekend is going to decide it," added the South African 'A' international, who is still to decide whether to return for a third season at the club.

"I've had a great time at East Lancs. They have been wonderful to me. They've asked me to come back and we're still discussing some things," he said.

Rishton have named Clinton Perrin as the substitute professional for their game at Accrington today, while Peter Sleep will again step into the breach for tomorrow's potentially decisive game at Rambsottom.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Burnley v Bacup, Church v Nelson, Colne v Accrington, East Lancs v Lowerhouse, Enfield v Haslingden, Ramsbottom v Rishton, Rawtenstall v Todmorden.