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The clash of the Jennings Ribblesdale League heavyweights takes place tomorrow with the winners stealing a march in the title race for the first time this season.

Reigning champions Padiham and last season's runners-up Ribblesdale Wanderers are locked together at the top of the table with identical records of eight wins in nine games.

But something will have to give at Church Meadow when the two meet in the biggest game of the summer to date.

And ironically both sides will be looking to recover from defeats last Saturday when they saw their 100 per cent records go out of the window.

``It's a big game and hopefully we will perform better than we did against Read. It was a good toss to win, but having said that you can't take anything away from Read, who outplayed us on the day,'' said Ribblesdale skipper Terry Braithwaite, whose side were thumped by nine wickets at Whalley Road a week ago.

And his words were echoed by Padiham captain Andy McNicholas, who saw his men slump to a five-wicket defeat at the hands of Baxenden.

``You can only go on winning for so long and we had a bit of an off-day against Baxenden. But to be fair they batted and bowled better than us on the day and when that happens against you you don't win many.

``The key words beforehand were 'wake-up call'. I said I hoped we wouldn't need one but funnily enough we did.

``I'm sure we can bounce back, although Ribblesdale will say the same,'' said McNicholas. Both captains are keen to point out that the title race isn't a two-horse affair, although tomorrow's winners will open up a handy lead at the head of the table.

``Whoever wins this week goes top and with so many teams taking points off each other to get your nose in front would be ideal,'' Braithwaite added.

``But if we do get beat, it won't be the end of the world. Padiham are probably the favourites again but Baxenden have shown that they can be beaten.''

McNicholas is also keen to strike an early blow in the championship race and is backing his men to stay the course again.

``It's going to be a hard-fought game and it will give a bit of breathing space to whoever wins,'' he said.

``We have got a good side. We learned a lot from last year and we have had a good start this season.

``We have got enough experience in the side and some good youngsters to be able to carry things through. But it's early days yet and I just hope we keep on picking up points.''

Inevitably the professionals will have key roles to play and tomorrow's showdown brings together two of the league's most in-form batsman.

Padiham's Mark Harvey has scored 400 league runs, while Shahid Nawaz has over 550 in the bank for Wanderers.

``He's probably scored about 70 per cent of his side's runs this year so it will be interesting to see how they react if we get him cheaply and it's left to the amateurs. ``No matter how good you are you can't get 50-100 every week, although I'm sure he will be trying very hard,'' added McNicholas, who will have his predecessor as captain Neil Anderson back in the Padiham side.

Braithwaite is equally aware of not being over-reliant on Nawaz and will call for a more positive approach from the rest of his batting line-up, which will include the returning Paul Spencer.

``I was a bit disappointed we didn't take on Peter Sleep last week and that's one of the things I'll be talking about before the game,'' confirmed Braithwaite, as he tries to regain the top spot his side held courtesy of a better bonus points haul earlier this season.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Barnoldswick v Cherry Tree, Clitheroe v Earby, Edenfield v Oswaldtwistle, Great Harwood v Whalley, Read v Baxenden, Ribblesdale W v Padiham, Settle v Blackburn Northern.