Darlington Mowden Park have strengthened their already powerful back row department by signing Shaun Cassidy.

The Teessider began his career with Middlesbrough, had two spells at West Hartlepool and played at Newcastle and Northern.

Cassidy, an open side, has played in the top flight without becoming firmly established. He was a regular in Newcastle's first team in the second division when Rob Andrew joined five years ago, but was one of those pushed out by the new signings.

A similar thing happened when he went back to West under Mike Brewer, and after playing for Northern last year he has been inactive so far this season.

Having already built up a backlog of three league fixtures, Mowden anticipate they will need plenty of strength in depth to win North Division One.

Cassidy will be competing with Darren McKinnon for the open side spot, although McKinnon could switch to No 8. He alternated the positions against Boro last week, depending on whether Mowden were attacking or defending, and is likely to do the same in tomorrow's Tetley's Bitter Cup fourth round tie at Birmingham and Solihull.

Mowden will field an unchanged pack, but Chris Mattison and Scott Thompson will be on the wings, with Matt Howland switching to centre.

Mowden have spoken to Otley, who were promoted with Birmingham last season and lost narrowly to them in dreadful conditions last week.

"Otley said the conditions seemed to suit them, so we're hoping for a dry day," said Mowden's player-coach Kevan Oliphant.

"They seem to base their game on their powerful forwards and they are good defensively. They also have a good full back in Jim Quantrill, who kicks goals from all over. We haven't started well the last two weeks, but our fitness is good and we seem to wear teams down. But we will have to be on our game for 80 minutes this time.

"It's good to have Matt Howland back. He will be playing alongside Mark Bedworth, who has shown a lot promise and is getting more and more confident."

With the NPI Intermediate Cup and Tetley's Vase also being played tomorrow, the only league games of note are Middlesbrough v Driffield in North One and Darlington v York in North Two East.

Darlington are again likely to be without fly half Paul Lee because of his facial injury, but should not experience too many problems against a side who have lost all six league games to date.

The excellent form of 18-year-old lock Richard Snowball is making it difficult for Sandy Fitzpatrick to get back in the side, but winger Marc Potts, who set a club points record last season, has been pressing his claims after injury at the start of the season.

In the NPI Cup Blaydon, who fancy their chances of a good run, are at home to Ryton, while Redcar visit Ripon and Acklam entertain Hartlepool Rovers. Stockton have been scouring the North for a game, but seem destined to have a training session instead.

l English Rugby Partnership have formally approved a proposal from English First Division Rugby based on the Rob Andrew plan.

This is the EFDR clubs' first move towards implementing all elements of the plan, which will be presented and recommended to the RFU Council