Darlington need to win their final two games in North One East, both away, if they are to avoid returning to Durham and Northumberland One, where they began their climb through the divisions.

None of the three Richardson brothers will be involved in today’s match at Pontefract and may not be at the club next season.

Player-coach Lee is away skiing, scrum half Sean is injured and will not play at Old Brodleians next week, while centre David has not been seen for some time.

With prop Joe Oselton on the bench after injury, and David Glendenning unavailable, it’s a very young side which takes the field.

But team manager Tony Stowe believes they will make very effort to avoid the drop, saying: “These young lads have nothing to lose and play with their hearts.”

However, successive home defeats by three teams who were below them a month ago – Morpeth, Percy Park and Carlisle – give little cause for optimism.

Marcus Connew will be at scrum half, Mark Baldwin at centre and Gareth Davies at full back.

Old Brodleians are the team Darlington have the best chance of overhauling as the Hipperholme club entertain leaders Billingham today.

Most of the other relegation candidates have a game in hand.

Victory for Billingham will clinch promotion ahead of next week’s final game at Hartlepool Rovers as there is no way long-time rivals Sandal can overhaul the leaders’ superior points difference.

Billingham again have Paul Woodhouse at scrum half in place of the injured Adrian Evans.

Two years after being taken to the wire by Darlington in the Durham Cup final, Westoe are now streets ahead. They lie fifth in National Two North and will have a big say in who lifts the title.

Today they head to Macclesfield, who are four points behind leaders Loughborough Students with a game in hand.

Westoe also have to play third-placed Caldy at home in two weeks, followed by Loughborough the week after.

But the ground-sharing problems surrounding those two matches still have to be resolved.

South Shields Cricket Club have offered to seek league permission to begin the second X1 game against visitors Gateshead Fell at 9.30am, enabling the Caldy game to kick-off around 4.15.

A different venue is being sought for the clash with Loughborough, which may mean a plea to the RFU for a relaxation of the usual regulations concerning facilities.

Westoe skipper Gareth Nesbit said: “Playing the top three at the end of the season gives us the chance to see just how we have progressed as a team. I don’t care which of them wins the title, but we are excited at being so involved in the outcome.

“We want to end our first season in national rugby on a high, and there can’t be a better way of doing that than by claiming a prize scalp or two to end the campaign.”

With twins Chris and James Clark unavailable, winger James Walker has been drafted into the squad, which includes 18-year-old Matthew Mellish after his impressive debut off the bench against Hull Ionians.

Westoe also have to fit in their Durham Cup tie at Stockton next Wednesday evening.

After having their promotion hopes ended by a 21-20 defeat at Team Northumbria last week, Stockton visit Novos today with Mark Shires at full back as Tom Jeffery is working.

Andy Bare comes in on the wing, while up front Mark Skirving and Simon Brown move to the bench to allow starts for Anthony Parkinson in the back row and Matt Austen in the front row.

After losing heavily to a strong Wharfedale side in the Yorkshire Cup in midweek, Middlesbrough face another tough match away to North One leaders Morley.

In National One, Tynedale have the Murray brothers, Andrew and Jamie, plus Newcastle Falcons-bound hooker Joe Graham back for the visit of London Scottish.

Blaydon visit leaders Esher without flanker Kerry Wood.

One of only three first team regulars who started in Monday’s Durham Cup win at West Hartlepool, he tore a hamstring. Lock forward Stephen Trench, who has been out for most of the season through injury, joins the squad.

In the county cup semifinal Blaydon will face the winners of Tuesday evening’s (6.15) match between Darlington Mowden Park and Gateshead.

Mowden visit Rochdale today and expect a tough match against a side needing one more win to be sure of avoiding relegation.