RIBBLESDALE League leaders Barnoldswick aim to stretch their advantage at the summit tomorrow as they face Ramsbottom Cup finalists Ribblesdale Wanderers at Victory Park.

But they will face their Ribble Valley side without skipper Richard Nicholls, who is unavailable.

In the absence of the Yorkshireman, Barlick will be skippered by former Padiham man Umar Saddique for the clash against Ian Britcliffe’s men, who have moved into the top five on the back of a good run.

The leaders are 18 points clear of second-placed Read who face Salesbury at Whalley Road in a game that offers another showcase for the talents of Red Caps’ pro Susantha Pradeep, pictured.

The Sri Lankan has been in glorious form of late and after hitting a club record 162 against Edenfield a fortnight ago, he claimed four wickets in five balls and made 79 not out to steer his side to last weekend’s impressive win over Earby at The Applegarth.

That result lifted Jason Rawson’s men out of the bottom three as they aim towards mid-table.

Baxenden’s poor recent run has seen them drop from the top of the tree down to third spot and they face a revitalised Edenfield, whose own slump is a thing of the past after two successive wins.

Fourth-placed Whalley welcome Great Harwood to Station Road, while Earby make the trip into North Yorkshire for their game at Settle and Cherry Tree travel to Clitheroe knowing that a win will see them leap above their mid-table rivals.

Padiham welcome Oswaldtwistle Immanuel to The Arbories in the day’s other game.