BLAYDON, desperate to stop the rot which has plunged them into the National Three North relegation mire, are counting on derby passion to help them beat Tynedale today.

Originally frozen off on December 21, the match at Crow Trees is the first of two meetings in three weeks between the local rivals.

"We need at least one more win and we'd like to get it as soon as possible," said chairman Jim Huxley, who denied that the picture is as bleak as has been painted.

"We are still paying our players, although they have only just had their January money," he said. "Two of the players who left were not owed any money.

"Our Dutch international centre, Gerry Viguurs, went home for a month before going off to play in New Zealand, and Kevin McCallum is recovering from pleurisy.

"With David Dalrymple playing for Northumbria University, it has left us very stretched in the backs, but we should be able to match Tynedale up front.

"Our university players are available next week for the rest of the season and they include the Northumbria captain Peter Kilburn, who can play centre or wing."

Blaydon have slipped to fifth from the bottom and Huxley reckons five could go down if Wharfedale join Fylde and Kendal in being relegated from National Two. If Newbury went down instead, they would relieve pressure on Three North by going into Three South.

It would also help if the team finishing second in Three North - Waterloo or New Brighton - won their promotion play-off against the runners-up in Three South.

Either way, Blaydon need to climb one place and have their sights on overhauling Dudley Kingswinford, who are unlikely to gain another point.

Blaydon expect to have influential No 8 Tom McLaren back after injury today, while Chris Nunn also returns to the threequarters. Dalrymple's absence means Lee Hogarth continues at fly half.

Tynedale are again without centre Paul Boston, who played for Scotland Under-21s last night, while No 8 Jamie Murray is on duty with the Scotland Sevens squad.

Hooker Tasi Tuhana makes his first start for Darlington Mowden Park at Halifax since leaving them for Blaydon last year.

He returned last month and has come off the bench three times, but now has the starting berth with Ian Keeligan relegated to the bench as Danny Brown is named at prop.

Chris Strong could be needed at centre as Nick Wainwright is playing for Northumbria University and there is a doubt about Anthony Elwine with a twisted ankle.

With Matt Howland also still unfit, Jonno Wilson has been recalled after playing recently in the second team for his home club, Mansfield.

Iain Dixon is expected to have recovered by next week from his rib injury, but is replaced at full back today by Chris Mattison.

Darlington will be unchanged for the visit of North One's bottom club, Sandal, provided lock Matt Dilworth has recovered from an injury he suffered after five minutes last week.

Victory will take Darlington to the top of the table and player-coach Craig Lee said: "Promotion is in our hands - we just have to keep winning.

"We always seem to come on strong at the end of the season after a stutter in the middle and we are playing well now.

"The young front five have been outstanding and the older three in the back row are doing the business.

"If we were in the play-off for promotion that's scheduled for April 19, but we don't want to be in that as we have agreed to play Mowden in the county cup three days before.

"Top spot and automatic promotion is our aim, then we will look at what we need for next season. We have a few irons in the fire and we might have to look overseas.

"But we have a very good junior set-up and with some superb young players coming through."

In the Durham Intermediate Cup, Consett entertain Billingham today with the winners away to Gateshead in the semis.

Winlaton are at home to Hartlepool with a home tie against Ryton awaiting the winners.