ONLY half of Darlington's worst fears were realised when skipper Richard Snowball and Phil Dawson played for the Newcastle Development XV on Wednesday night.

Snowball emerged unscathed, but Dawson suffered a rib injury and misses today's National Three North match away to Leicester Lions.

With scrum half Sean Richardson still injured, Lee Davis ill and Alex Lyneton on holiday, Darlington again have to call on old hands to help them in their relegation fight.

Three of those who took over the coaching last month, David Andrew, David Glendenning and Del Lewis, are in the starting line-up, while ex-colt David Judge makes his senior debut on the wing.

Dawson's place at open side goes to ex-Mowden Park player Andrew Tonkin, with Lewis at blind side and Tom Wilkinson switching to No 8 to allow Snowball to return at lock.

Charlie Raynor, who was on the bench on Wednesday, returns at fly half, with Rory Wood switching to inside centre after impressing at No 10 last week.

After helping the England Counties XV beat France Amateurs last Saturday before suffering a one-point defeat with the Falcons against Edinburgh, Snowball said: "I'm a bit tired but I'll be okay.

"I want to concentrate on helping Darlington to stay up now. We need to win two or three games, starting with this one.

"The last two games have been disappointing because we have been missing tackles, but the spirit is still very good."

Hooker Dan Oselton returns to a full-strength front row, and with the experienced Andrew prompting them from scrum half Darlington will try to win up front against a side who have strengthened and improved since lying next to the bottom.

The Lions have won four and drawn one of their last six games to move into mid-table, and with West Park St Helens playing the bottom two clubs today and next week the battle to avoid the third relegation spot looks to lie between Darlington and Hull Ionians.

Mowden Park can do their neighbours a huge favour today by winning at Hull, who are a point behind their rivals with five games left.

Mowden include Tim Visser, on loan from Newcastle, at centre and switch the dangerous Michael Breen to his favourite position of full back as Iain Dixon has a hamstring injury.

Gareth Kerr and Ben Seru provide more pace on the wings and scrum half Andy Foreman will be under orders to get the ball out as quickly as possible.

First they have to win it with a depleted front row from which Danny Brown is ruled out by a recurrence of his shoulder injury and Robbie Kalbraier is also missing after turning an ankle.

No 8 Jason Smithson is also out for at least two weeks with a hamstring strain, so Rob Liddell and Gavin Stainsby are drafted in, with Scott Riddell returning at open side.

On a day when all four of the region's National Three North teams are away, title rivals Blaydon and Tynedale face tough games.

If leaders Tynedale lose at third-placed Preston Grasshoppers the race will be wide open, and Blaydon's hopes of staying in touch are not helped by injuries as they travel to Macclesfield.

North Two East champions Middlesbrough are resisting the temptation to blood youngsters at home to Percy Park, with Dave Hinchley replacing unavailable lock Chris Webb in the only change.

Durham City need to win at home to second-placed Sheffield Tigers, while Horden entertain Rochdale and Hartlepool Rovers should make virtually certain of safety by winning at home to Sheffield. Stockton need to avenge their opening day defeat when they visit Billingham.