And both Barnoldswick and Earby open the campaign against Ribble Valley opposition.

Barnoldswick, looking to build on a seventh-place finish last time out, take on Ribblesdale Wanderers, and their new professional, Pakistan all-rounder Khalid Latif.

And Earby face the trip to Clitheroe, after avoiding the wooden spoon last year by beating Read by three wickets on the last weekend.

Barnoldswick have engaged 28-year-old South African left-hand batsman and leg-spinner Burton de Wett (right) as professional, and hope to have him in place for the trip to Cherry Tree on the second weekend of the season.

De Wett is the captain of South Western Districts back home, where he also plays for Warriors, and was paid man at Bolton League side Heaton last year.

Tomorrow, however, former Burnley professional Pierre Joubert fills the void. The 30-year-old set a Burnley professional batting record in 2003, when he rattled up 1,245.

David Scothern will skipper the side, who have bolstered the ranks with George Braithwaite from Nelson and the returning Richard Bedford and Daniel Oldfield, although Alamgir Anwar has departed for Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.

Earby welcome back prolific run maker Ali Azmat for a fourth season at the Applegarth.

Azmat smashed the league batting record in his first season at the Applegarth in 2006, reaching 1,655 runs – a league record.

And he had an equally good season the following year, racking up 850.
Last season saw him clock up 731 runs, adding 45 wickets.

Tomorrow's games are: Barnoldswick v Ribblesdale Wanderers; Baxenden v Edenfield; Blackburn Northern v Cherry Tree; Clitheroe v Earby; Oswaldtwistle Immanuel v Great Harwood; Padiham v Settle; Whalley v Read.