THERE will no brotherly love when Vishal and Bharat Tripathi go head to head in Lowerhouse's derby clash with Burnley in the SponsorBank Lancashire League tomorrow.
The Tripathi's will be the first brothers to face each other in the league since 1977.
Ironically, that match was also between Lowerhouse and Burnley as Surinder Amarnath took on Mohinder Amarnath.
The derby clash will mean divided loyalties for dad Pankaj, a legend at Liverpool Road.
He said: "Bharat is a bowler at Lowerhouse and he has been joking all week that he'll send Vishal back early to the pavilion tomorrow.
"Vishal though keeps saying he'll smash him all over the ground. I'll just leave them to fight it out."
Vishal returns to Lowerhouse for the first time since leaving for Turf Moor in the summer.
Pankaj, now a junior coach at Nelson, added: "Lowerhouse really looked after him. He only left so he could try out a different pitch. He's been back to the club since to meet everyone, but I'm sure there'll be a bit of jokey banter."
Lowerhouse manager Stan Heaton said: "Vishal and Bharat are two of the loveliest kids you'll ever meet, and I can't see any problems."
Burnley will have a squad of 12 to choose from for the trip to the champions.
And with the game being a local derby, not to mention the return of Tripathi to his former club, there's plenty of spice in this fixture.
He said: "Vishal's going to get stick, he knows that, but this is the kind of game we all want to play in.
"This is one of the biggest games of the season for us and we just hope we can get out and play some cricket on Sunday."
ENFIELD captain David Bracewell has had some welcome selection headaches going into tomorrow's showdown with neighbours Accrington.
After struggling to name the same side for consecutive games last season, the players are queuing up to be involved. And Bracewell isn't complaining.
"We've got too many players for teams at the moment, which is a good problem to have," he said.
"For the last couple of years we've struggled getting players available for each game, but that's changed now.
"I suppose it all comes with winning games because people want to play."
Bracewell knows Accrington provide tougher opposition this season, after strengthening the squad by signing top amateur bowler David Ormerod, as well as Indian professional Nishit Shetty.
And the Thorneyholme Road outfit will be looking to end their rivals' unbeaten start to the season.
"That would be outstanding," said captain Matt Wilson, who expects to name an unchanged line-up.
"But we are up for every game we play at the minute, especially after having such a good start."
NELSON skipper Mike Bradley is looking forward to the clash of the professionals at Seedhill as his side play COLNE.
Bradley, who leads an unchanged team into the game, reckons the vistors' paid man is one of the Lancashire League's top professionals.
He said: "They're a decent team and Nagamootoo is one of the top three pros in the league so we have a lot of respect for them.
"They'll be up for it with it being a local derby, but so will we so given a bit of good weather we hope for good weather, a good game and a good crowd."
Colne go to arch-rivals Nelson knowing victory would be the perfect way to kick start their season.
Despite winning their last two matches, chairman Ian Walker, says his side have really yet to get going.
"We're all in the same boat because of the weather but we're a bit ring rusty because of the lack of games. But what better way to get our season going by beating our closest rivals."
Aron Pollard is added to the squad.
CHURCH make a couple of changes for their Hyndburn derby with RISHTON.
Phil Gilraine and Barry Shorrock replace Ryan North and Mark Gilraine and skipper Phil Sykes is expecting a tough afternoon.
He said: "They were a good side last year but with John Cordingley and Mohsin Ahmed joining Peter Sleep and their new pro they're even better.
"But I think all the sides are stronger and we'll have to be at our best. It's a big weekend for us all told."
Rishton captain Peter Sleep is desperately praying for some dry weather after describing the start to the season as the worst he has ever known'.
"The weather plays a very big part in the English game but I don't think we've been washed out as many times in past seasons as we have in this one."
RAWTENSTALL are on the road again but chairman Brian Payne is confident of victory at Haslingden.
The Worswick Memorial Ground club have not played a home game all season due to the poor weather.
Payne said: "It's incredible to think that we are nearly in June and we still haven't played a home game. But, saying that, we are very confident of winning at Haslingden."
Will Cook-Martin is injury so John Hayman returns.
Haslingden are unchanged.
Both sides remain unchanged as Bacup and Ramsbottom do battle at Lanehead.
Paul Turner has taken over full time as EAST LANCS captain after the former skipper Phil Bolton stood down. But Bolton and John Fairless both play against TODMORDEN, who will stick with the same side that played yesterday.
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