THE Darlington clubs face matches today which could go a long way towards deciding whether they swap places next season.

The smart money would still be on them both being in National Division Three North, but if they lose today's away games the prospect of both being in North Division One inches a little closer.

The more crucial game is Darlington's as defeat at Cleckheaton would leave them depending on someone else to topple the North One leaders.

That could then leave Darlington battling with Chester, who they visit on February 8, for the right to play-off for promotion against the team lying second in Midlands One, which is currently Whitchurch.

Darlington make one change with Matt Dilworth at blind side as Del Lewis is unavailable. Rob Goddard comes on to the bench.

There is still a possibility that Cleckheaton, who lead Darlington on points difference, could have points deducted for fielding an ineligible player.

A decision has yet to be made, but Chester, who faced a similar threat, have been cleared. They were alleged to have fielded three overseas players in one match, but it transpired that one of them had married an English girl and was therefore eligible.

The subject of overseas players has finally ceased to be a concern for Darlington Mowden Park, whose club captain, Aaron Redaelli, has had his English qualification rubber-stamped by the RFU.

After missing most of the season with rib then hand injuries, the former Otago flanker has been unable to get into the side in recent weeks because of the form of Mowden's two Tongans.

But he is selected at blind side for today's trip to Broadstreet, with Vaha Faleovalu switching to No 7 at the expense of the unlucky Jonny Boatman.

Ian Keeligan is working, so Danny Brown switches to prop with Chris Strong hooking, forcing Mowden to select Matt Howland at centre and hope his shoulder does not come out again.

With Steve Jones still injured, there is no replacement back, and it could be that Kelekolia Paino would have to switch from lock if Howland broke down.

Coventry-based Broadstreet are an ambitious club with a new ground with floodlights, so the match kicks off at 3pm.

They edged ahead of Mowden into fourth from bottom spot last week and after recruiting new players recently are clearly determined not to return to Midlands One following last season's promotion.

If Mowden lose and Bedford Athletic win at home to Blaydon, Mowden will be next to the bottom. But they should still be optimistic about winning six of their last ten games.

They have to play Scunthorpe, who look doomed, home and away, and also have home games against Bedford, Broadstreet, Liverpool St Helens and Halifax. If it comes down to the final match at Hull Ionians they should also be confident of winning that after beating the Humbersiders 43-15 at home.

While they will shortly have an embarrassment of riches in the back row, with the return of Darren McKinnon and Tony Irwin, what Mowden really need is greater strength in the backs and they are still hoping that Anthony Elwine will help out.

Following Monday's 31-10 defeat at Saracens, Newcastle Falcons will be unchanged for tomorrow's return leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final.

That means Jonny Wilkinson will play his first game at Kingston Park since the Premiership defeat by London Irish on November 3.

His brother Mark stays at centre as Tom May has a rib injury and the Falcons retain the same squad of 22 as they have no-one else fit or eligible. James Grindal will again start at scrum half in preference to Hall Charlton and Epi Taione is also on the bench.

While they comfortably overturned a 17-point deficit in the home leg against Treviso in the second round, it will be much tougher against Saracens.

Newcastle have next week off as they are out of the Powergen Cup, then get down to the serious business of avoiding relegation when they entertain Harlequins the following week.

After that they visit Leeds on Friday, February 7, but then have no more Premiership games until March 16 because of the Six Nations Championship.

South African lock Mark Andrews will arrive this weekend with a view to playing against Quins and Leeds before returning home briefly.

He will return to Newcastle with his family to complete an 18-month contract, but unless they win both his first two matches it is difficult to see the Falcons escaping bottom place this season.

West Hartlepool visit Morley today with Paul Rudd staying in the back row at the expense of Stuart Bennett, who is on the bench. Mark Baggs joins Andrew Davies in a combative second row.

The backs are unchanged with Darren Thomas and Tommy Barff on the wings. Centre Jamie Connolly is to return to New Zealand for a couple of weeks shortly, which will present a problem as West currently have no cover.

* Darlington have promised to send the relevant evidence from their match video to Morley, but fear that it won't help the Yorkshire club's defence of prop Rudolph Kahn.

Playing only his second match for the club, the New Zealander was sent off at Darlington last week for striking the referee.

Although inconclusive, the video appears to show that he did aim a blow. What isn't clear is whether his intention was to strike an opponent and the referee happened to get in the way