SUCH is the strength in depth of the Newcastle Falcons squad that they will have five full caps and an A international on the bench when they go under the microscope at Worcester tomorrow.

The match against the Zurich Premiership newcomers is live on Sky at 3.30 and the Falcons' Director of Rugby Rob Andrew said: "It's not a potential banana skin, it's an actual one.

"It's a sell-out, it's on TV, it's new boys versus cup winners and it's Jonny Wilkinson's competitive comeback.

"We have seen quite a bit of Worcester already and they are going to prove a real test for everyone in the Premiership. On paper their squad is stronger than Rotherham's and they have some very good players in the likes of Clive Stuart-Smith, Tommy Hayes and Pat Sanderson.

"The match will set the scene for the whole season as far as Worcester are concerned and how everyone else views them."

The internationals on the bench are Dave Walder, new hooker Andy Long, Epi Taione, Samoa captain Semo Sititi and lock Craig Hamilton, who made a big impression on Scotland's summer tour.

Matt Burke, who has called time on his 11-year Australia career after amassing 81 caps and 878 points, is not even in the squad after arriving this week and Andrew also feels that Sititi needs more time to settle in.

Primarily a No 8, the powerful and athletic Sititi should prove a more than adequate replacement for last season's captain Hugh Vyvyan, now with Saracens.

Phil Dowson is at No 8 tomorrow with Colin Charvis at open side and Irishman Mike McCarthy completing the back row, but Andrew insists: "They are all multi-skilled and multi-talented - all our back rows can wear any number."

Giant American Luke Gross makes his Newcastle debut in the second row alongside Stuart Grimes.

Newcastle: J Shaw, T May, J Noon, M Mayerhofler, M Stephenson, J Wilkinson, H Charlton, I Peel, M Thompson, M Hurter, L Gross, S Grimes, M McCarthy, C Charvis, P Dowson.

Darlington Mowden Park, who have retained their link with the Falcons, also kick off against a promoted side in National Three North.

Cleckheaton are the visitors after emerging from North One via a play-off and they can be expected to be fired up under the coaching of former British Lion John Bentley.

Mowden will start with South Africa Under-21 fly half Michael Georgiou on the wing as long as a problem with his registration is cleared up in time. Former Newcastle Academy player Peter Feelan stands by.

Mark Bedworth will be at No 10. Stephen Jones will be in contention for the position but is required by the Newcastle Development XV on Monday night.

Former England A player Martin Shaw, who played a few games for Mowden last season before being recalled by Newcastle, is no longer on the Falcons' staff and could be available all season.

He is partnered at centre by Teessider Tom Lauriston, who has played for Otley and Wakefield since leaving Middlesbrough.

Tongan Dosita Danginoa makes his debut at lock and all the back row are new signings.

Former West Hartlepool and Wharfedale player Paul Evans is at No 8, flanked by Matt Holmes (ex-Harrogate) and Matthew Wright (ex-Otley).

Tom McLaren, who will be with the club until late October, is on the bench, while back row stalwart Tony Irwin has returned to Sunderland as player-coach.

Mowden Park: I Dixon, M Georgiou, T Lauriston, M Shaw, A Foreman, M Bedworth, R Holbrough, I Keeligan, T Tuhana, D Sinclair, I Robinson, Dosita Danginoa, M Holmes, M Wright, P Evans.

Darlington start away to Rugby Lions, relegated from division two, without player-coach Craig Lee and flanker Martin Howe.

Lee will miss at least the first six weeks after a knee operation, while Howe starts a three-match suspension after being sent off during last season's county championship.

Marc Potts, a strong contender for a place on the wing, has strained a hamstring, while full back David Glendenning is not yet match fit.

Lee's absence, coupled with the loss of the Haswell brothers to Westoe, leaves Darlington short of centres and David Andrew is to partner the newcomer from Horden, Andrew Turner, who will also be first-choice goal-kicker.

Other newcomers in the team are David Evans, from Ballymena, who partners his ex-Newcastle University colleague Richard Snowball at lock, and a trio of 19-year-olds. Former England Schools A full back David Kell, from Gateshead, is joined by winger Lee Davis, from Middlesbrough, and former Hartlepool flanker Michael Taylor, who played for Durham County last season.

Darlington: D Kell, B Snook, A Turner, D Andrew, L Davis, P Lee, R Stewart, D Miller, D Oselton, P Shepherd, D Evans, R Snowball, D Lewis, M Taylor, I Fulwood.

David Richardson, who was with Mowden last season, has rejoined his brother Lee at Middlesbrough, who are back in North One and kick off at Morley. The third brother, Sean, has joined Harrogate.

David will be at fly half and Lee at centre, while Scott Watson, a local lad back from university, makes his debut at loose head.

Flanker Gavin Fingland retains the captaincy and Boro are again coached by John Moore, but former player-coach John Dixon has finally called time on his distinguished career.

Stockton visit relegated Huddersfield in North Two East with coach Alan Brown and Phil Austen coming into the back row in place of the unavailable Brett Widridge and Jamie Brown.

Mattie Oates is working and fellow centre Dan Taylor has a hamstring injury, so Graeme Kell switches from full back to partner Steve Thornton. Jamie Hauxwell takes the No 15 shirt.

In the preliminary round of the Powergen Cup, West Hartlepool visit Hull, who beat them 37-14 in the first match of last season and went on to win North Two East comfortably.