Royals and Bears set to battle it out at the top

What a splendid dog fight, or bear fight, or battle royal is going on at the top of Division One of the Norwich Union League. Worcestershire Royals just in front of Warwickshire Bears on run rate, and every round of fixtures could result in a change of leadership. This week the Royals travel to the south-east corner of England to meet Kent Spitfires - the reigning champions who are eight points behind the leaders but with a game in hand.

Meanwhile the Bears will have to sharpen their claws and teeth as they travel to Leicester to take on the Foxes, whose attention is focused on the other end of the table. They are a single win above the relegation zone and, after their late disappointment at the top last time around, they do not want to compound their problems.

There are two other matches in Division One. Glamorgan Dragons are two wins behind the leaders with two matches in hand. They travel to Trent Bridge to meet Nottinghamshire Outlaws who are desperately trying to escape from the drop zone, while the same could be said of Somerset Sabres who go to Scarborough to play Yorkshire Phoenix. The interesting thing is that while the Yorkshiremen will be looking upwards, a defeat or two could have them looking down rather sharply. It is the case with all the teams in the middle of the table.

There is no match for the Surrey Lions this weekend, so there is a chance for the Gloucestershire Gladiators to take off and soar over the Lions at the top. The Gladiators take on Middlesex Crusaders at Southgate, with the hosts intent on marching up the table.

Hampshire Hawks are third - four points behind the leading pair but with two games in hand. The Hawks are at Southend to meet Essex Eagles, trying to establish a pecking order among the sides that have yet to shape their season. The Hawks have played only five matches this season and the Eagles a mere four.

Northamptonshire Steelbacks have only played five, which puts them in with a good chance of promotion because they are tucked in four points behind the leaders. They travel to Hove where they meet a Sussex Sharks side that has been distinctly short of bite this term. Six points from seven matches is a record that ensures they occupy the bottom place in the table.