NEWCASTLE Falcons will use today's match at Leicester to find out what their young players are made of as they prepare for life without five experienced campaigners next season.

Assuming they win, it will be the third time Leicester have clinched the Premiership title by beating the Falcons and there is bound to be a party atmosphere at Welford Road.

"We will find out from our players whether they will take the soft or the hard option," said Newcastle's Director of Rugby Rob Andrew.

As Leicester are so far ahead, Andrew does not run any risk of being accused of handing them the title and can use the match to further his youngsters' development.

For purposes of qualifying for the Heineken European Cup, Andrew also needs to target the remaining home games against Bath (April 28), Saracens (May 5) and London Irish (May 8). The final game is at Northampton on May 11 and after their cup semi-final drubbing by the Saints, Newcastle cannot expect to win there.

Although indications so far are that Jonny Wilkinson will play, it would not be the first time Andrew has left him out at Leicester, and it would be a good time for the England fly half to take a break.

That would mean an outing at No 10 for Dave Richardson as Dave Walder is still out with his hamstring injury. Otherwise a full-strength squad has been named, but it is unlikely that Pat Lam, Inga Tuigamala, Gary Armstrong, Doddie Weir and George Graham will start as they near the end of their Falcons careers.

Darlington Mowden Park complete their National Division Three North programme with a trip to champions Doncaster.

Fly half James Lofthouse, who has landed a job in London, plays what is expected to be his last game for Blaydon at home to Sandal, who will finish bottom if West Hartlepool win at home to Tynedale.

Darlington entertain West Park St Helens in North One, hoping to continue last week's form at Aspatria as they prepare for Tuesday's Durham Cup semi-final at home to West Hartlepool, which will kick off at 7.30.

The county have indicated the final will take place at Durham City next Saturday.

There had been a suggestion West Park might replay their abandoned match against leaders Halifax today, but they objected and the situation has yet to be resolved.

The St Helens club are currently two points behind Halifax and one behind Hull Ionians, so they have everything to play for. They will also be keen to avenge the rare home defeat Darlington inflicted on them in December.

With uncertainty still surrounding Paul Lee's leg injury, Ian Dobson is again at fly half and Paul Radford at lock in an unchanged Darlington team.

Middlesbrough, already relegated, could drag Sheffield into the mire by beating them at Acklam Park in their final home game in North One.

Andy Micklewright and Tom Lauriston return in the backs, but Steve Wallis is given another outing at centre alongside Lauriston.

The Poole brothers, Danny and Ben, will be on the wings, while Dale Sawdon's return at prop sees Chris Horton switch to loose head.

In their final match in North Two East, Stockton travel for a mid-table match at Westoe without unavailable winger Simon Crozier.

Steve Thornton switches to the wing and Joff Staples comes in at centre, with Matt Reynolds named as a back replacement.

* Westoe have blamed uncertainty over the arrangements for pulling out of their Durham Cup semi-final at Mowden Park last Tuesday.

When the other semi, between Darlington and West Hartlepool, was put back to next Tuesday because of the Queen Mother's funeral, Westoe indicated they would be happy to do the same. However, several Mowden players had already changed their shifts.

A Westoe spokesman said: "The players had already indicated to their employers that it was likely that they would be playing the following week. So it would have caused major problems to some players to have to go to their employers on Monday morning and ask to change things.