THE clear match of the day in the Premier Division is the first-against-second clash between Heathcoat and title rivals Paignton at Knightshayes.

Heathcoat are five points clear of Paignton at the top of the table going into round 11 of 18.

Both sides lost last time out – Heathcoat to Torquay, Paignton against Plymouth – and neither will want to slip-up again.

Jackson Thompson, the Heathcoat captain, has been measured in his approach all season and is not about to change despite the defeat at Torquay.

“Although, we lost there is no need to panic as we know where we went wrong and will fix it before this Saturday,” said Thompson.

“With Paignton also losing a close game not all is lost and the title chase continues.”

Thompson said Heathcoat did not bat as well as they could have done at Torquay and that losing wickets ‘in clusters’ was a handicap.

Thompson added: “Credit however goes to Torquay who played as a team and used the best of the conditions second dig to extrapolate any turn off the wicket and win an important game for themselves.”

The significance of the match is very apparent to Paignton captain George Benton, who said: “ It's a massive game this weekend with only five points between us.

”Like Torquay last week we will be the underdogs going into the game.

“We are fully aware of what Heathcoat are capable of, but we can't be underestimated.

“We have worked hard this year and want to fight for every game and point.

Benton, Richard Ashworth and Connor Bryan are all away this weekend. Joel Ashworth. Charlie Ward and Sam Woodcock step up from the second team.

“All of the players coming in deserve their shot this weekend,” said Benton.

“Each have scored runs and taken wickets and I have full trust in them performing.”

Dan wolf will take over as captain.

Plymouth skipper Jon Varcoe is looking to extend his side’s winning run when Exeter visit Mount Wise.

The one-run victory over Paignton last time out was the first time this season Plymouth had won on successive Saturdays.

Can Plymouth do it again? Varcoe has understandable optimism.

We beat Exeter convincingly earlier in the season, which will give us some confidence,” said Varcoe, who hopes to name an unchanged side.

“However we know Exeter have some dangerous players so it won't be an easy game.

“If we stick to and execute our game plan we'll have a good chance of making it three in a row.”

Another potential three in a row is three successive centuries for Plymouth’s Pakistani pro Faizan Riaz. He took 107 off Paignton and 112 off Bovey in the previous match. Having scored a hundred against Exeter earlier in the season, the portents are encouraging.

Bovey Tracey entertain bottom side North Devon aiming to avoid a fourth straight defeat.

And they will be facing the side that bowled them out for 54 in round two a batsman short as Devon’s Josh Mailling won’t feature again this season having landed a job in London.

Chris Bradley, a former Devon captain, comes in for Mailling.

“We are hoping to turn around our recent form and get our season going again,” said Bovey captain Toby Codd.