Darlington Mowden Park will forget the grudge element when they visit Blaydon today and attempt to launch their bid for National Three North safety by playing fluent rugby.

Mowden can almost trace their troubles back to the late November day when this match was scheduled to be played.

They were furious that it was called off because of a frozen pitch at 10.30 on a sunny morning, especially as they were going well at the time and Blaydon were having a dreadful run.

In early December Blaydon were next to the bottom, 16 points behind Mowden. Now, after winning six of their last seven games, Blaydon are five points ahead of their visitors, who have lost seven on the trot.

The revival of the Crow Trees club should help to reassure Mowden that things can turn around quickly and team secretary Jim Dyson said: "The spirit is still good and the players are determined to get out of this.

"We probably need three wins from nine games to be comfortable, and if we get one of those at Cleckheaton on April 2 we will be OK.

"The players showed a lot of spirit to fight back against New Brighton last week and if we can build on that we could win at Kendal next week as we are their bogey team.

"Then we have Fylde at home the following week and Bedford Athletic away the week after."

Bedford are virtually stranded at the bottom and Mowden will hope they have given up the ghost by the time of their March 5 visit.

They are two points ahead of Cleckheaton, who occupy the third relegation place and have a slightly easier run-in. The West Yorkshire club have no game today, but have four home matches left - none of them against top five sides - compared with Mowden's three.

Mowden certainly won't want it to come down to the last day on April 23 as they are away to leaders Halifax while Cleckheaton entertain Tynedale.

Darlington, who are one point ahead of Mowden, are at home to Kendal on the last day and also have home games against Bedford, Dudley Kingswinford, Rugby Lions and Macclesfield.

Mowden don't wish to be sucked into a forward battle today as Blaydon's bulldozing tactics, epitomised by prop Fatu Tulaga, helped them to a comfortable win at Yiewsley Drive last month.

Mowden will rely on Shaun Richardson's quick, accurate service to get the ball away to what they hope will be an unchanged back division.

There is a slight doubt about powerful centre Matt Howland because of a hamstring niggle, so Matthew Brown stands by to play on the wing with Tom Lauriston switching to centre. Gareth Kerr has been ruled out until next month.

Darlington have three Catterick-based Fijians in their squad for the Durham Cup first round tie at home to West Hartlepool.

Goal-kicker David Kell is expected to return after featuring, along with the Fijians, in a Development XV match against Richmond in midweek.

West are without centre Allan Milne, who has not fully recovered from the high tackle which earned Richard Arnold a yellow card in last week's win at Westoe.

The penalty count in that match was reported to be 33-3 in West's favour, and although that has since been disputed referee David Sawyer certainly incurred the wrath of the home fans.

Sawyer's nephew, Tim, was not playing but he returns to West's back row today, while Paul Miller switches to centre and 18-year-old Chris Lambert makes his full debut on the wing.

Having for many years opted out of the county cup when they were a top-flight club, West now see it as a route into the Powergen Cup and a pay day which would help them to refurbish their pavilion and build a new entrance, as demanded by the council.

* Newcastle Falcons, who have no game this weekend, have been told that their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Stade Francais on April 2 will be played at Parc des Princes.

The capacity at the famous stadium is 44,000, compared with 12,000 at the club's nearby Jean Bouin Stadium.

Parc des Princes, where Leicester beat Stade Francais in the 2001 final, was home to the French national rugby and football teams until 1998.

Newcastle's Director of Rugby Rob Andrew said: "We are thrilled that a game of this magnitude will be played in one of the world's great rugby stadiums.

"Having played there for England many times, there are few venues to compare with it and with the Geordies travelling over in great numbers it will contribute to what promises to be a fantastic atmosphere and great occasion."

Tickets for the match will be available in the first week of March, and there are places available on a second plane chartered by the club, the first one having sold out in less than a week. Anyone interested should ring Anna Humphreys on 0191 214 2808.