Mark Prideaux - missing from Filleigh's line-up due to a back injury

FILLEIGH have been hit by availability issues for their date with Shobrooke Park at Deer Park.

Former player Fraser James is getting married tomorrow and the guest list has cut a swathe through the Filleigh team.

James Marsh, Rob Collier, James Hill and James Campbell are all away.

Back are Justin Saker, old warhorse Martin Brice and young all-rounder Alun Sullivan.

Batter Mark Prideaux, who wasn’t on the guest list, suffered a back strain while out on his weekly training run and has pulled out of the side. John Harrison fills in.

Last Saturday’s win over Cullompton was the sixth on the trot for Filleigh, who hope to be in seventh heaven after tomorrow’s game.

“We are playing some good cricket at the moment and everyone is contributing which is great,” said skipper Simon Prideaux.

“Hopefully, we can keep up our level of performance and get a seventh win in a row.

Second-placed Barton are away to Ipplepen, who would have hoped to be further up the table than seventh at this stage of proceedings.

With halfway two more matches away, Ipplepen skipper Sam Wakeham has been weighing up his side’s prospects.

“We have had a mixed first half of the season, but with the side we have we now that once we click as a team we are capable of going on a winning streak.

“Luckily, apart from Filleigh, it's a tight division and everybody is capable of beating everybody.”

Pens haven’t always been at their strongest in the first half, not helped by a clutch of pre-season departures.

Jonny Norman, Jack Lewis and Ben Forsey replace, Keith Wakeham, Gareth Penrice and Callum King in a potentially stronger side tomorrow.

“With Jack Lewis back we are hoping he will strengthen the top order and help get us of to a solid start,” said Wakeham.

“Benny and Jonny are a good opening partnership with the ball and we will be looking to pick up early wickets with the new ball and Barton under pressure from the start. 

“Expecting to have a tough game this weekend as Barton have started the season well.”

After the drama of their midweek win over Premier side Sandford in the Servicemaster Devon T20 Cup, it’s back to more mundane matters for Cullompton.

There is only one side below Cully in the table and that’s Babbacombe, who pay a visit to Landspeed Meadow tomorrow

Cully have found it tough since winning promotion, but not as tough as Babbacombe who are 15 points behind.

James Blackmore, the Cully captain, knows the importance of beating Babbacombe.

“Need to beat Babbacombe to maintain the points we need to remain in touch with Thorverton and Ipplepen above us,” said Blackmore, who has a full-strength side.

“Knowledge is a powerful tool. Knowing our opposition going into the second half will be vital to us winning some important games if we are to stay in this division.

“I believe we have the players to keep us up. The rest need to believe in themselves.”

Elsewhere, Seaton make the 120-mile round trip to Plymstock and Thorverton host Tavistock.