Donovan Robinson - elevated into Budleigh's 1st XI for the game against Plympton

THERE’S a super Saturday ahead in the A Division where the four of the top five are all in action among themselves.

Leaders Bradninch are at home to third-placed Cornwood while fifth and fourth meet at Two Mile Oak where Abbotskerswell meet Hatherleigh.

As Plympton (6th) meet second-placed Budleigh Salterton as well, the top half of the table could look substantially different by Saturday night.

Bradninch and Cornwood both have clear Premier Division aspirations so their game should be a ding-dong.

Eliot Acton, the Bradninch captain, has a shrewd idea what is coming, even though the sides have missed each other on the Premier-to-A Division roller coaster in recent summers.

“We haven't played them for a few years but, historically, Cornwood have always had a strong bowling attack and this year looks no different,” said Acton.

“I expect an overseas batter to turn up at some point as well so on paper they look a good outfit.

“We will need to be better than we have been so far this season to get a result but I have every confidence our middle order and a few more bowlers will step up.”

Matt Skeemer, the Cornwood captain, was a little more succinct in his pre-match assessment.

“We are expecting a very tough game against a very good side but are taking a lot of confidence from the past two weeks,” said Skeemer.

Team news is that Tallan Burns and Kallan Nessling return to the Bradninch team, replacing Liam Reed and Mark Ashplant.

Ryan Rickard returns the team to Cornwood’s team to strengthen the batting.

Abbotskerswell, beaten at Cornwood last time out, have a couple of changes for the meeting with Hatherleigh.

James Westlake (wedding) and Charlie Hill (in the 2nd XI for a top-five batting slot) drop out. All-rounder Richard Acton and Charlie Smout Cooper are in.

Nick Watkin, the Abbotskerswell captain, said: “Hatherleigh look a really good side and we will have to perform much better with the bat against another excellent bowling attack.”

Hatherleigh captain Mark Lake has a healthy respect for Abbots, but does not fear them unduly.

“It looks a tough one but the team going there are more than good enough to get our third victory of the season,” said Lake.

Batter Ryan Davies is at a wedding so Danny Forrester steps up from the 2nd XI.

Former Devon wicketkeeper Marc Bettis makes his Hatherleigh debut having joined the club from Sandford.

Budleigh, fresh from a win over Barton, make two changes. Up from the second team come batters Donovan Robsinson and Neil Murrin.

Lloyd Murrin, the Budleigh captain, said: “We are looking to carry on the good form we've shown in the first two games against a decent Plympton side who are always tough to play at home.”

Murrin has been encouraged by the debut performances of Tarisai Musakanda, who scored 124 and took four wickets, and Muhammed Sarfraz, who took two for 20 off ten.

Something has to give when Ivybridge meet Bideford in a basement battle at Westward Ho!

Both sides are winless so one of them is going to open their account.

Ivybridge looked better against Plympton last Saturday when their 200-plus reply against Plympton hinted to Bideford skipper Paul Heard of an improvement.

“Ivybridge look to have strengthened well over the winter and we expect another tough task,” said Heard.

“But we have something to prove and a better performance is inevitable at some point.”

Barton and Tavistock, two more teams without a win yet, meet at Cricketfield Road.