PRESTON head in to the second half of the season needing a good dollop of luck - especially as they prepare to face the current league champions this weekend.

Preston are once again at home, this time to Netherfield, a fixture, which can be described as very, very tough - to say the least.

Perhaps the first team should take a leaf out of the second XIs book.

Greg Bamber hit 114 to help them to victory over Chorley at the weekend while the first team suffered an embarrassing defeat at home to Nigel Heaton's side. And earlier this season, Ahmed Mansoor took 10 wickets in a clash against Leyland DAF.

On Saturday, Preston must do their best to restrict Netherfield's early batting order. The champions had no problem notching up 248-8 declared against Lancaster at the weekend.

And Preston must set about to notch up the runs quickly because the likes of Mark Hadwin, who made a career best of 9-44 last weekend, won't have any hesitation in making the most of any weaknesses.

Leyland DAF will be hoping for a repeat performance of last Saturday -albeit without the early batting collapse! - when they play hosts to Blackpool at Sandy Lane.

DAF climbed back off the bottom of the table when they beat Leyland last weekend, a result which pushed Leyland back to the bottom. DAF will be determined to build up a gap between them and their Fox Lane rivals, and the way they handle Pool's useful players will go a long way to decide whether they can start a late surge.

Bottom of the table Leyland are at home to Morecambe, who are one of the league's in-form teams, and while it would be realistic to hold out for a draw, remember that Leyland have produced a few surprises this season.

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