NEWCASTLE Falcons are to pitch new signing Daryl Lilley straight into the team for tomorrow's Zurich Premiership match at home to Leeds Tykes, which kicks off at 1.30.

The former All Blacks triallist will be on the wing as Rob Andrew rings the changes following what he described as the worst performance of the season at Gloucester last week.

His biggest gamble is to axe David Walder and select Mark Wilkinson at fly half, a position in which he looked uncomfortable during a couple of outings last season.

While his brother Jonny recuperates from his shoulder injury in Mauritius, Wilkinson senior is handed an unexpected chance to prove he can perform at this level.

His only senior starts this season have been at centre against Spanish club Valladolid, and his inclusion is a sad reflection on Walder's struggle to recover his best form after missing most of last season with a broken leg.

Apart from his general play being below par, the talented Walder's kicking has also not been up to scratch and Lilley is likely to be handed that role tomorrow.

Aged 29, he has played mainly as a full back and was in the Canterbury Crusaders team which won Super 12 in 1999. He was a teammate of Falcons' centre Mark Mayerhofler at Canterbury, but has spent the last three seasons with Wellington Hurricanes.

He has signed until the end of the season, providing cover in the absence of Michael Stephenson with a fractured elbow and Ben Gollings on England Sevens duty.

Lilley replaces Martin Shaw, who was off the pace when selected on the wing last week and will join Walder on the bench tomorrow.

Hall Charlton replaces James Grindal at scrum half, while Craig Hamilton partners Garath Archer at lock as Stuart Grimes is playing for Scotland in Cardiff today.

Second row cover is provided by Geoff Parling, from Stockton, while former Durham School prop James Isaacson will be on the bench after recovering from the broken leg which has kept him out all season.

The Falcons are fifth from the bottom and two of the seven Premiership games they have left are against Leeds, who are two places below them.

As Andrew tries to galvanise his side for a strong finish, which could also include a Powergen Cup run, he said: "We simply did not show up last week.

"We have played well for most of the season and lost some matches despite good performances. But last week was not good enough.

"In the break we had after going out of Europe we lost the momentum we had built up and now the seven matches we have left have all become massive games."

Lilley admitted he may be short of match fitness, but said: "I'll go for as long as I can and give it everything. If I'm needed to step up and kick all well and good. I'm keen to do it."

Three Newcastle players are involved in the Under 21 Championship today. Prop David Wilson is playing for England against Italy in Naples, hooker Will Kay is playing for Wales against Scotland at Bridgend, where winger Steve Jones will be on the bench for the Scots.

Darlington Mowden Park include winger James Tyrrell for the first time this season for the visit of New Brighton in National Three North.

He has recovered from shoulder and thumb injuries and gets his chance as Andy Foreman switches to scrum half for the unavailable Richard Holbrough.

Dave Richardson is on the other wing with Mark Bedworth at fly half and Chris Strong at centre as Suka Hufanga aggravated his hamstring injury when warming up for training on Thursday.

Richard Arnold and Tony Irwin return to the back row, while Jon Dye is back at lock for Luke Monument.

Prop Joe Oselton returns to Darlington's starting line-up at Macclesfield and his brother Dan could be on the bench in an otherwise unchanged team.

The registration difficulties surrounding New Zealander Ian Fullwood have been resolved and the back row man is eligible for league action next week. He will play for the seconds at Morpeth today.

Morpeth have re-signed centre Barry Hills, who starred for Tynedale at Darlington this season but has been out for the last six weeks with a hip injury.

West Hartlepool skipper Tim Sawyer returns after a two-month absence following an operation and will play at hooker at home to Horden. Steve Black switches from wing to back row, with Andrew Davies reverting to lock.