DARLINGTON have rung the changes for today's visit to Orrell, introducing a new centre pairing and switching skipper Richard Snowball from lock to blind-side flanker.

With Charlie Raynor unavailable, Craig Lee moves to fly half with Lee Davis at inside centre and Alex Lineton outside him.

Further switches see Chris Barber moved to full back with Lee Richardson on the wing, while Andy Hartson comes into the second row for his first start of the season a few days after landing a job as a rugby development officer for Teesside.

The shake-up follows the disappointing cup defeat at Clifton last week, although player-coach Lee said: "There were a lot of youngsters in the team who are new to first-team rugby and we have to build them up, not knock them down.

"We didn't play well for 25 minutes but we improved in the second half. Lee Davis did well when he came on, Chris Barber was one of the plusses and Lee Hoggart did well at prop.

"Davis looks fresh and strong after taking a few weeks off. We know he has the talent, now he has to prove to himself that he can do it without worrying about anyone else.

"Outside centre is Alex Lineton's position and it was probably a bit unfair to play him at full back as we did a couple of weeks ago."

Hoggart stays in the team as the club have decided to impose their own ban on Dan Miller until the end of the month, while appealing against the two-month ban handed down by the RFU.

"We hope they will see our ban as sufficient," explained Lee. "We have to be fair to Dan because we haven't handled this very well and he's upset about it.

"He was sent off on the evidence of a touch judge who said he raised his foot 12 inches above the player he's alleged to have stamped on, but when you're Dan's shape that's impossible."

Lee feels No 6 could be Snowball's best position, and it's where the England Counties selectors apparently want to play him this season.

With another lofty ex-lock, Michael Taylor, at open side, it will be a question of balance in the back row and there could be selection difficulties with Matt Holmes due to return next week.

There should be no shortage of line-out possession, however, with Hartson - a 23-year-old Rotherham Academy product - adding to the options.

The shuffle in the backs sees Gavin Clegg drop out because of a back injury, while Simon Crozier is on the bench.

Darlington Mowden Park have decided not to risk Jason Smithson at Leicester Lions and with an operation on his adductor muscle due early next month, he will be out until February.

Tim Wilks continues at No 8 with Chris Wearmouth at blind side, while Gavin Stainsby will be on the bench following his return from suspension.

Also on the bench is Michael Breen, who has had to make way for the return of centre Gareth Kerr, although the decision was influenced by the fact that Breen will be unavailable over the festive period. Simon Jennions also makes way, with Iain Dixon and Peter Phelan on the wings.

Leaders Blaydon visit Hull Ionians, where they came unstuck last season, without brothers James and Dan Kyle, plus injured full back Ralph Smith.

Gavin Charlton and Richard Windle return at half back, while Andy Fenby is at full back and Mike Sutherland makes his first appearance of the season on the wing.

The leg injury which forced hooker Matt Hall off after 15 minutes last week is not as serious as feared and he will start with Chris Stewart alongside him as Marcus Cockburn is injured.

West Hartlepool claim they will be fielding their youngest ever side for a league fixture when they visit North Two East leaders Middlesbrough.

It includes 17-year-old half backs Michael Young and Gavin Painter, which means David Tighe is left on the bench, while other teenagers include lock Tom Dixon and No 8 Aaron Myers.

The oldest player, at 27, will be former TDSOB hooker Andrew Dixon, who makes his first league start for the club after spending the first part of the season with Mowden Park.