COLIN Charvis will be back for Newcastle Falcons' Premiership match at home to Worcester on Sunday, but Jonny Wilkinson will wait one more week.

Welsh flanker Charvis has been out for three months since suffering a foot injury in the Heineken Cup match at home to Newport.

He said: "It has been enormously frustrating to be out just when I was starting to get more involved. I'm hungry to return and I can't wait to run out on Sunday."

Wilkinson is expected to return at Northampton next Friday night and will have that match and the home game against London Irish on April 30 to prove his fitness for the British Lions. He is expected to be named in the squad by Sir Clive Woodward on Monday.

Director of Rugby Rob Andrew said: "Jonny is about as close as you can get to being fit but he isn't quite there. He has done most of the training this week, but we just have to do things right and make sure he is 100 per cent."

Mathew Tait has been selected on the left wing in place of Michael Stephenson, Luke Gross replaces Geoff Parling at lock and David Wilson starts at loose head in place of James Isaacson.

Blaydon have picked up a few tips from Darlington this week ahead of tomorrow's National Three North relegation battle away to Rugby Lions.

If Blaydon win Rugby will go down, but if the Lions win it will leave several other clubs still sweating over the third relegation place, Blaydon included.

Rugby looked a poor side as they lost 31-6 at Darlington last week after trying to unsettle their hosts by provoking three fights in the first 15 minutes.

"I don't like to see people sent off, but somebody probably should have gone," said Darlington's player-coach Craig Lee, whose season looks to have been ended by a torn abductor muscle.

Darlington have had better luck than most with injuries this season, but with three of the top six to visit in their four remaining games it was just as well they secured safety last week as Lee was one of three casualties.

All are key players and lock Richard Snowball and flanker Martin Howe will be missed on the trip to face New Brighton's powerful, well-drilled pack tomorrow.

Snowball has a black eye and grazed face after last week's scraps, but it is a pulled hamstring which has ruled him out, while Howe has a broken hand.

Lee Davies, who limped off after 35 minutes, is fit and is likely to be joined at centre by Ben Snook, returning after injury. David Evans, Joe Naga and James Snowball are competing to fill the vacancies up front.

"It was good to get the bonus point at the end last week to make sure we are safe," said Lee. "We have had discussions and as far as we know everyone is keen to stay.

"Phil Lancaster and I have another year on our contracts, and I'm looking to continue beyond that."

The injuries mean Darlington will be in no hurry to arrange their Durham Cup semi-final at Blaydon, but any discussions over the date will have to wait until the Crow Trees club have secured their safety.

Darlington Mowden Park are of the same opinion, although they have been offered either of the last two Wednesdays of the month by their hosts, Westoe.

Both Mowden and Darlington have rearranged their final league games for Saturday, April 30, but that is the scheduled date for the county cup final and there is some dispute about what takes priority.

Mowden have two chances to achieve safety tomorrow - by winning at home to second-placed Macclesfield or by Blaydon winning at Rugby.

Mowden are waiting to see if prop Danny Brown will be back from his skiing trip, but after the excellent win at Cleckheaton they are planning an unchanged side. No 8 Matt Holmes, a late casualty last week, is fit to offer options on the bench, along with lock Naude Pretorius and centre Matt Howland.

Blaydon will bring in Nick Gandy on the wing in place of Sean Hannah, who has left to take up a job in Manchester.

Dave Marwick returns at lock in place of Jimmy Houghton, who was handed a one-week ban by the club after being sent off in last week's win against Bedford Athletic.

Middlesbrough can ensure North One survival with a fourth successive home win against Liverpool St Helens, who are four points behind them in next to bottom place.

Inbetween are Vale of Lune, who are at home to mid-table Birkenhead Park.

But with only one more game to come they won't be able to catch Boro if the Acklam Park club win as the gap in points difference currently stands at 116.

The tense relegation battle in North Two East sees Stockton travel to Hartlepool Rovers desperate for at least a point.

With prop Simon Brown and centre Steve Thornton available, Gary Skirving and Andy Bare drop to the bench, while Nick Atkinson comes in for unavailable flanker Brett Wildridge.

Peter Armstrong stays at scrum half after impressing when he went on as a replacement for Owain Jenkins last week.

Horden will be doomed if they lose at Sandal, while West Hartlepool will be safe if they win at home to Driffield.

The big match in Durham and Northumberland Division One sees Durham City entertain leaders Percy Park.

City are second, three points adrift with two games left, and realistically they are battling with Northern for the play-off place. Northern entertain Hartlepool.