Horsford skipper Chris Brown insists his side's flying start to the season last weekend was no fluke.

Brown's team comfortably outplayed champions Cambridge Granta to record a 166-run win at Manor Park.

The captain rejected the notion that his team had caught the champions cold on the opening day, adding: 'For all 12 teams it was their first competitive game so I don't think that makes a difference, everyone is in the same boat. We just outplayed them in all three departments.

'Our scorer told me that it's only the second time we've beaten them in the league. They are a tough, competitive unit and I'm absolutely delighted with the efforts of the whole team.'

This weekend Horsford make the trip to Clacton, who have been tipped to struggle this year and lost heavily at Saffron Walden on the opening day. Brown added: 'I heard they had lost a couple of players, but looking at their line-up from Saturday they still have some decent players there and they'll be a useful side.

'We've always done pretty well against them, and I think if we can play to the same level as we did last weekend, we can take the majority of the points.'

Horsford will be without Matthew Wilkinson and wicketkeeper Darren Smith, with Louis Bellchamber coming into the side and James Leck taking over behind the stumps.

Brown said: 'We were missing Ryan Findlay last Saturday as he was playing for the Northants Academy, but he will be back next weekend. We've probably got a stronger squad now than we've ever had.

'The balance is good, with three or four seamers plus the spinners so we have more strength in depth.'

Michael Warnes, signed from Cromer in the winter, made an impressive debut against Granta, picking up three wickets and Brown added: 'He bowled nicely, got it in good areas and he's got a bit of pace. He was down to bat at number 10 for us which shows how strong the batting line-up is, because he did well with the bat in the Alliance Premier for Cromer last year. But he could move up the order – we're quite a versatile side and I'm fairly hopeful that we can keep improving.'

Vauxhall Mallards' Namibian Gerrie Snyman arrived this week, creating a tough selection decision for their visit to Granta.

Snyman's overseas replacement last Saturday, South African Glen Addicott, had been signed to play in Mallards' second team in the Alliance, but he marked his EAPL debut with a century against Norwich.

Swardeston eventually overpowered a battling Burwell side on Saturday and this weekend they host Bury.

Norwich's batting capitulation at Brundall last weekend saw them defeated, but new skipper Paul Wiseman will hope to rally his troops for the visit of Burwell to Postwick.

Great Witchingham, who drew a close game at Bury last week, are the first Norfolk team to take on league newcomers Sudbury, who were involved in a similarly tight match on Saturday when they lost at home to Halstead by four runs.