NEWCASTLE Falcons see their opening two matches in the European Challenge Cup as the chance to put together a complete performance.

They entertain Brive today then visit Borders next Sunday with Rob Andrew confident that the belief they can beat anyone will help his side get over their stuttering start to the season.

After winning at Northampton and drawing at Leicester, two venues at which they have usually been thumped in recent seasons, it has been the Falcons' home form which has seen them slump to next to bottom of the Guinness Premiership.

They have the chance to put that right today as French teams don't usually relish a trip to the North-East.

"We are getting there," said Andrew. "What we need now is consistency and the ruthless attitude to turn narrow losses and draws into wins.

"In the next two games we have to take it up a notch and really put a performance together. We are working desperately hard on putting together a game where all the components fall into place at the same time and when that happens someone is going to take a real thumping."

Brive lie eighth in the French Championship and appear to be a side with few stars. They will be captained today by Australia Sevens scrum half Tim Clark and have two Natal Sharks players in the back row in Johan van Zyl and Charles van Rensburg.

The Falcons will relish the chance to show their undoubted attacking skills, but it was their defence which gave them huge satisfaction at Leicester.

"I can't remember the Tigers making a single line break," said centre Mathew Tait. "We have taken a bit of stick about our defence so to stick to our method and get it right was a big boost.

"We are all aware that we seem to drop off the next game after a big performance, but we all know that as a team we are capable of beating anyone. It's down to us to make sure we are mentally switched on. You have to respect your opponents and approach every game as a tough one.

"Brive like to throw the ball around a bit from what we have seen so it should be a good, open game."

Darlington Mowden Park will field a strong overseas contingent in their home match against Blaydon in National Three North.

Seo Atelemo returns at full back, Frenchman Rodrige Gouionnet is at centre, South African Pieter Booysen at fly half, Tanginoa Fosita at lock and Junior Fagalilo at blind side.

Of their two recent recruits from Blaydon, Ricky Bagier starts at open side while Gavin Stainsby is on the bench after his hand injury.

Chris Birch, a speedy back who reputedly can kick goals, has been signed from Gateshead Thunder and will start on the bench. The other signing from Thunder, Cakacaka Tabuanitoga, and lock Anthony Peck both have hamstring problems.

Backs coach Kevan Oliphant said: "We are looking forward to it. We were sorry not to have a game last week to get the poor performance at Cleckheaton out of our system.

"We played well at Blaydon in the cup and we are hoping for a nice day to show what we can do."

Whether Blaydon will allow Mowden to play any rugby is doubtful as they believe they have the beating of them up front and will be out to prove that, even without Dave Guthrie.

The skipper is now targeting the Powergen Cup match at home to Waterloo on November 5 for his comeback, but Northumberland skipper Ed Thorpe makes his first start for six weeks at No 8.

Blaydon have signed former New Brighton and Preston Grasshoppers centre Sengi Tuihalamaka, who will start in the second team today.

Mowden Park: S Atelemo, M Breen, G Kerr, R Gouionnet, I Dixon, P Booysen, S Richardson, I Keeligan, M Darlington, D Sinclair, T Fosita, I Robinson, J Fagalilo, R Bagier, M Holmes.

Blaydon: M Campbell, J Kyle, S Segi, M Shaw, M Sutherland, D Clappison, N Williams, I Nola, M Hall, P Winter, D Whitehead, P Clark, P Segi, A Wright, E Thorpe.

Darlington visit leaders Nuneaton, while Tynedale will hope to continue their climb up the table by winning away to bottom club Kendal.

Centre Martin Featherstone makes his first appearance of the season for Middlesbrough at home to Hull in North One.

Lee Richardson is injured again, while his brother Dave has recovered from his hamstring problem but will start on the bench.

Pedro Salahshouri, back at the club where he started after also playing for Stockton and Mowden, gets a chance on the wing in place of Danny Poole.

With Chris Palesci unavailable, Neil Young stays at lock and is joined by Iain Bradford as Richie Barker returns at No 8. Chris Horton also comes back at loose head.

Durham City have former Oxford student Mark Forth making his debut at fly half in North Two East's top-of-the-table clash at Sheffield.

He replaces Dan Kyle, who is on county Under-18 duty, while Chris Mattison and Tomas Bieliauskas come in on the wings.

The changes up front see Mark Davies at loose head, Stuart Smithson at lock and Grant Thompson at blind side.

West Hartlepool recall centre Allan Milne, hooker Brett Cullinane and full back Peter Hodgson for the visit of Beverley.

* Middlesbrough will be away to Moortown in the third round of the National Colts Cup on November 6. West Hartlepool, who beat Bradford and Bingley 24-14 in round two, will be away to Cleckheaton, who won 18-17 at Darlington.