BILLY Stelling refuses to believe that the EW Cartons Lancashire League crown is already destined for Bentgate.

The East Lancs professional takes his side into tomorrow's home fixture with Bacup knowing East Lancs must cash in with maximum points if they are going to chase Haslingden to the finishing line.

The title favourites are currently six points clear and they could tighten their grip still further at Todmorden tomorrow.

And that leaves Haslingden on course for an amazing double after lifting the Worsley Cup at Turf Moor on Sunday.

"There is no way we are conceding the title - but logic tells you Haslingden are the favourites," said Stelling.

"We've an outside chance still but we cannot afford any mistakes.

"Haslingden have played the most consistent cricket this season and that is why they are way out in front.

"But it would definitely be a mistake to write us off and Haslingden could still mess it up in the final run.

"In a strange sort of way it has probably given Haslingden added impetus after Brad (McNamara) returned to Australia.

"The substitute professionals have kept things fresh and they've offered Haslingden a little bit of variation.

"Six points is not a massive lead and we are all quitely confident of getting results from our final five fixtures." Stelling has had a prosperous season with the bat - he is just 14 runs short of the 500 mark - but admits he is "15 to 20 wickets" away from the wickets total he had set himself at the start of the season.

"I'm quite pleased with how my batting has gone but sometimes I've bowled quite badly and got five wickets. On other occasions I'ver had no reward from a pretty good bowling spell."

And Stelling is still undecided over his future at East Lancs. The Alexandra Meadows committee have so far made no offer to the South African. "The club haven't mentioned it and it all depends on a few things," he added.

"I've had a couple of offers from elsewhere but I would like to come back to East Lancs. That would be nice beacuse I've enjoyed it this season."

Lowerhouse and Ramsbottom are locked in third place with Shane Lee's Enfield the visitors to Acre Bottom tomorrow.

Lee misses the fixture after his shock call-up by Australia. Fleetwood professional and Queensland all-rounder Jimmy Maher will deputise.

Church will be looking to build on last weekend's success over Rawtenstall which sentenced Rawtenstall to bottom place.

FIXTURES: Accrington v Lowerhouse, Burnley v Church, East Lancs v Bacup, Nelson v Rishton, Ramsbottom v Enfield, Rawtenstall v Colne, Todmorden v Haslingden.

A dazzling display of international cricketing talent has been lined-up by Billy Stelling for a match at East Lancs.

The game, sponsored by Blackburn's Nat West branch will take place at Alexandra Meadows on Friday, August 29, between a South African and a World XI.

The South Afrcian squad is: Dale Benkenstein (Burnley and Natal); Alan Dawson (Nelson and Western Province), Corrie Jordaan (Lowerhouse and North West), Meryck Pringle (Rishton and Western Province), Steven Pope (Border), Mark Boucher (Border), Hylton D Ackerman (Western province), Craig Sugden (Natal), Billy Stelling (East Lancs and Boland), Frans Cronje (Todmorden and Border), Craig Norris (Eastern Transvaal), Glen Hewitt (North West), Deon Taljaard (Border). World International XI: Shane Lee (Enfield and Australia), Brian Strong (Zimbabwe), Ben Johnson (Colne and Australia), Chetan Sharma (Blackburn Northern and India), Jack Simpson (Haslingden and England), Jimmy Maher (Australia), Eldine Baptiste (West Indies), James Peterson (Australia), Richard Chee Quee (Australia), Matthew Hart (New Zealand), Rudra Singh (India), Chris Harris (Ramsbottom and New Zealand), Hamish Anthony (West Indies). Umpires are East Lancs batsman David Pearson and Lancashire Evening Telegraph sports editor Neil Bramwell. Wickets are to be pitched at 1pm for the 40 overs per side game.

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