Darlington are hoping player-coach Craig Lee will be fit as they return to the reality of a tough away match in North Division One tomorrow.

Lee left the field with a shoulder injury towards the end of last week's 123-10 home win against Wigton, which was a worry as he has already been injured this season and was badly missed.

Fellow player-coach Phil Lancaster said: "It can be very hard to drag Craig off the pitch. We had already used our subs against Wigton, but we thought it was better to play with 14 men than risk further damage.

"Hopefully he'll be OK to face West Park St Helens because we are expecting a tough match. We beat them down there two years ago in the Intermediate Cup but I'm sure they've improved since then."

West Park are third, one place and two points above Darlington, and include some of Lancaster's old North of England teammates such as ex-Orrell pair Neil Ryan and Martin Strett.

"Neil is a fly half from the old school and we'll be looking to attack down his channel," said Lancaster. "But we have to have several game plans and be able to adapt to the way they are defending.

"People can easily lose focus in a game like last week's, but we have always said we must stay focused on the way we want to play next week and the week after that.

"There's always a risk when you come up into a new league that you amass points and expect it to be enough. But the higher you go the more important it is to keep your foot on the gas.

"We have lost four league games, all narrowly, and we don't feel we've been beaten by a better side. We have beaten ourselves."

One of the benefits of the Wigton romp was that county under 20 player Ian Dobson came off the bench to show his paces.

Normally a fly half, he played at centre and Lancaster said: "He could play on the wing. He's got a lot of pace and he's a good ball-player with a lot of potential."

There is a slight doubt about winger Paul Beattie, who had missed six weeks with a hamstring injury and tweaked the other hamstring on his return last week.

Also in North One, Middlesbrough visit Sheffield, who have improved greatly since conceding 60 points at Darlington in September. Full back Mark Foster, who missed last week's win through illness, returns for Boro and Phil Adamson comes in at loose head as Chris Horton has a back injury.

Fly half Steve Jones is on the mend, but will be joining up with the Newcastle Academy when he has recovered from injury.

Stockton are unchanged for the visit of Westoe, despite losing their last four games in North Two East to slip to third from the bottom.

Westoe, who had a slow start following promotion, became the first side to beat Cleckheaton last week and are now three places above their hosts.

With injuries still keeping out inspirational skipper Alan Brown and his brother Wayne, among others, Stockton have little room for manoeuvre.

In a battle between the third and fourth placed clubs, Redcar are at home to Morpeth.

Darlington Mowden Park will again be without Mark Wilkinson for the visit of Doncaster as his duties as conditioning coach to the Newcastle Academy will take him to Saracens.

Tynedale, unfortunate to lose to a last-minute drop goal at Mowden last week, should have an easier task at home to West Hartlepool.

Also in National Three North, Blaydon visit Sandal, who are next to the bottom. The return of skipper Dave Guthrie made a big difference for Blaydon last week and he will continue at lock.

Blaydon knew they were to lose centre Dean Michniewicz, who has gone to Australia, but New Zealander Dean Elminger has also suddenly had to return home.

This solves a problem as they can play only two overseas men, and South African back row Drikus Kotze has been joined by friend Morne Marais, a centre, who will be on the bench. Nick Gandy starts at inside centre and Charlie Roe comes into the back row