DARWEN launch their title defence at Netherfield tomorrow (Saturday) as the Northern Premier League ushers in a new era under the auspices of the English Cricket Board.

Over the winter, the league acquired premier status in accordance with the ECB's blueprint for raising the standard of the game.

For now, however, the only visual change will be to the playing conditions with matches being played between 1-8pm with a minimum of 110 overs. Sides batting first can occupy the crease for a maximum of 60 overs but the points system remains the same.

Darwen skipper Jeff Hacking isn't convinved about the changes but admits that captains may have to think twice about the previous tactic of asking the opposition to bat first to control the game.

"My personal view is that I don't think we should play more overs but we will go along with what the league has decided to do.

"I don't think playing 110 overs will make much difference and a few teams might not bat that long.

"But if you can bat 60 it will make you think a bit more about whether to bat or bowl rather than just bowl, bowl, bowl. If it's a good pitch and you can bat 60 you should be able to get 200."

Darwen have lost the services of outstanding professional Richard Petrie but Hacking is optimistic that West Indian Keith Semple will be able to fill the breach and help the champions mount a decent defence of their crown.

And Hacking believes the influence of Petrie will live on. He added: "Even people like me who are 28/29 can learn every year and you learn so much when you've got somebody like the professional we had last year.

"He talked about playing cricket but also about the mind side of the game and how to prepare for matches and we can take that on and hopefully keep that going this season."

Darwen will be without the services of opening batsman Graeme Ainslie and Paul Rodden is an injury doubt.

But they have retained the remainder of last season's side and will face an instant test of their credentials at Netherfield tomorrow, as Hacking believes that Netherfield and St Anne's, particularly if South African batsman David Callaghan is available for the full summer, may again be the ones to beat.

Several familiar faces will be missing from the Chorley team for their first game at home match to last season's runners up St Annes.

Leg spinner Keith Eccleshare, one of the league's most consistent wicket takers, has retired owing to a persistent shoulder injury and another veteran slow bowler, Rex Purnell, has also decided to call it a day. Experienced opening batsman Russell Cake is now based in London and will be unavailable, as will slow left armer Graham Gibson, who has moved to Leeds. Professional pace man Josh Marquet returns to the club for another season after a successful spell in his native Tasmania and much will also be expected of opening bowler Iqbal Patel who, along with Marquet and Eccleshare, finished in the top ten in the league averages last season.

The Northern League may have taken on Premier status for the county, along with the Liverpool Competition, but their line-up of professionals isn't a patch on the Lancashire League.

The league has tied up two new sponsorship deals for the coming season. The league is to be backed by Lancaster-based radio station The Bay 96.9fm, while the First Division Cup is to be sponsored by the Nuffield Hospital Trust.