THE prospect of a home tie against Harlequins in the next round is the incentive for the four North-East survivors in the Powergen National Trophy today.

Only Westoe have been drawn at home, against Wharfedale, and it's a similar story in the Intermediate Cup, with only Durham City at home out of the region's seven clubs in the second round, and they face holders Morley.

Westoe lost to Morley in last April's final at Twickenham, but they qualified for the senior event by virtue of reaching the Durham Cup final.

They also lost that to Darlington but the trophy was not presented because of confusion over the eligibility of Alan Brown, who has not allowed it to tarnish his enjoyment following his move from Stockton at the age of 37.

"Alan is loving it," said Darlington's player-coach Craig Lee ahead of today's fourth-round cup tie at Macclesfield.

"He loves the crack, playing rugby and scoring tries, and he says he will be with us for two years then we will take it from there. He's playing with people as good as him but much younger, so they are the legs and he's the wise old head.

"If people like Phil Dawson listen to him they will learn. Sometimes they think they are the finished article, but Phil doesn't and he's now playing with a smile on his face instead of a snarl."

Dawson continues at open side for the injured Martin Howe and another of the team's veterans, fly half Paul Lee, is also missing with a groin injury.

Former Middlesbrough and Yorkshire Under-20s player Lee Davies deputises and Craig Lee said: "Paul's 38 so we have to think about grooming a successor and Lee's a good footballer as well as a brave lad who has the respect of the other players.

"He also gives us another option as a goal-kicker. Ben Snook had a bad day last week, which could have been why New Brighton were happy to keep going off-side at the mauls and pulling them down.

"That contributed to it being such a stop-start game, but we can't blame the kicker - I've missed a few myself. We just had to change tactics and put the ball up our jumpers and walk in a few tries."

It was all in stark contrast to the home match against Macclesfield last month, when Darlington scored 53 points.

Lee expects a much tougher test this time, but insists: "We are going there full of confidence. They came up with us three years ago and it's always been a good place for us to go.

"I don't know why they changed personnel so much after finishing second last season. It takes time for players to gel and we hope to cash in again. It's certainly an incentive to think we might get Harlequins in the next round."

Darlington will introduce former Barnard Castle Schoolboy James Beattie, who has come up through their junior sides, at full back in place of Apenai Kororua. The Catterick-based Fijian has been stood down from all sport by the army because of a shoulder injury.

Prop Dan Miller will be on the bench following his knee injury.

The 18 survivors from today's fourth round will be joined by the 14 League One clubs in Monday's draw and the least likely North-East team to make it are Tynedale, who visit League Two leaders Moseley.

Blaydon go to Coventry-based Broadstreet, who have been relegated twice since the sides met in National Three North three years ago.

They are one of only two level-six sides left in the competition but they cannot be taken lightly after knocking out Leicester Lions.

Blaydon have never lost in 14 cup ties against sides from lower leagues and hope to progress without risking skipper Dave Guthrie, who should be back next week after his knee injury.

Dave Marwick is given an outing at lock, with Paul Clark dropping to the bench, while either Rob Windle or Jamaican Mike Sutherland will replace Matt Dehaty, who is out for the season with a broken leg.

Prop Ivan Nola is back from Croatian international duty but is on the bench as Blaydon have decided to retain Paul Winter after his sending-off against Leicester Lions last week. His hearing is on Monday week.

Durham City make one change for the visit of Morley, where they lost 27-24 in the third round last year. Michael Hay switches to loose head with Jamie Bond coming in at hooker.

Also in the Intermediate Cup, Middlesbrough have centre Lee Richardson back for the trip to Malton and Norton, who are two levels below them.

Neil Baggett reverts to full back and Ross McNeill switches to the wing with Danny Poole dropping to the bench.

Neil Young, who has joined from Mowden Park, is given a chance at lock with skipper Iain Bradford switching to No 8. Richie Barker joins Chris Horton on the bench, while another prop, Craig Chapman, regains match fitness in the seconds as Iso Warsama and Peter Wrathmall retain their first-team places.

Hartlepool Rovers go to Pontefract and West Hartlepool also visit a Yorkshire One club in Huddersfield YMCA.

Pontefract have won two of their league games to date but YMCA have lost all four.

West have recalled Phil Wallis at fly half, with David Tighe reverting to scrum half, while Martin Todd replaces unavailable winger Danny Weegram. Brett Cullinane, Tim Sawyer and Allan Milne all begin their comebacks on the bench.

* The newly-formed Hashimoto Samurai club has joined forces with Wearside after being able to fulfil only one fixture in Durham and Northumberland Division Four.

Hashimoto, a company which supplies Nissan, set up a sevens tournament two years ago and thought they had generated enough interest for 15-a-side.

"On paper we had 26 players," said secretary Steve Hall. "But we had two injuries in the first match, then we found we were down to nine the following week.

"Wearside have also been struggling for a few years because there is no rugby being played in the local schools. We have spoken to all the schools and they are coming to a meeting.

The Hashimoto club were based at Castle View School, Hylton Castle, where a new teacher, Austin Donoghue, is coaching teams at several age groups.

* Durham County treasurer David Thompson, from Gateshead, and Durham Referees' Society chairman Malcolm Shorney, from Middleton-St-George, have received medals after being nominated for an award under the Community Service Volunteer scheme.