IT'S still will he, won't he? for the Great Harwood squad as they eagerly await the arrival of professional Jermaine Lawson.

The team has been on tenterhooks all season at first waiting for Sohail Tanvir - whose contract they had to cancel last month - and now replacement paid man West Indies fast bowler Lawson.

He was due to fly into England yesterday although none of the squad will believe it until they see it.

"It must have cost our secretary Stuart Maher a fortune texting Jamaica organising Jermaine's arrival," said batsman Allan Armer.

"But we can't wait for him to arrive and anyone who can get a hat-trick against Australia can't be bad.

"But it seems like it has been one saga after another with us.

"It has been unsettling not having a professional and the ones we had initially hardly got any runs and wickets between them.

"Fortunately this weekend, the sub professionals played their part with Rishton's pro Saeed Anwar doing well for us - he is a great lad - and then we got Justin Kreusch and he kept the bowling tight."

He continued: "It means, even without a regular pro for the first seven games, we are still in a decent position with just six points separating us in eighth place and second placed Padiham.

"With 12 points for a win, it is a lot better for us as we can get the bonus points. Occasionally, we do not get many runs but we always go for it and do not shut up shop and the bonus points is not a bad rule."

And the Harwood team will be hoping for a maximum score tomorrow when they take on local rivals Baxenden, who have had a stunning start to the season and currently top the Ribblesdale League table.

But Armer, who has so far starred with the bat with 259 runs and a high score of 97, will miss the big clash as he is on his stag party.

"The captain Paul Houldsworth isn't too happy especially as, so far, I have done quite well. I have carried on from where I left off last season really," said Armer.

"I was captain last season but knew that I wouldn't be able to do it this season with getting married as I would have to miss too many games.

"I might go for it again next season as I have settled down and am a bit more responsible now!

"But I will be texting to find out the score tomorrow.

"I remember their pro Jonathan Fielding saying that last year was the first time he had won a game against us in something like 10 years so they will be fired up for it too and their openers have been in good form. But a win will shoot us up the league."

Harwood are one of the form teams after their double win weekend.

Rishton pro Saeed Anwar Junior was their key man on Saturday making 89 and taking four wickets in their 82 run win over Cherry Tree.

Ian Howarth also celebrated a half ton to steer Harwood to what was their third win of the season.

Then, on Sunday, they had no problems disposing of Settle who made just 119, with Peter Sleep taking three wickets.

They by-passed the score with seven wickets to spare.

BAXENDEN managed to hold on to top spot despite slipping to their first loss of the Ribblesdale League season on Sunday.

Fourth placed Read proved hard opposition and set a tough target of 248. Pro Jonathan Fielding made 57 while skipper Mark Rishton amassed 34 but they fell 30 runs short in a bumper game.

The day before, Baxenden easily saw off Settle in a seven wicket win.

But Oswaldtwistle Immanuel suffered a double loss weekend as they struggled with the bat.

On Saturday, Whalley made 172, despite six wickets from Imran Abid. Gerard Metcalf's 28 was the top score for Immanuel in reply.

Then On Sunday, they made just 70 with Edenfield comfortable eight wicket winners.