DURHAM have picked four players from each of the two Darlington clubs for tomorrow's opening County Championship match against Cheshire at Macclesfield, writes Tim Wellock.

Among them is Mowden Park's Kelekolio Paino, the Tongan who has played mainly at lock this season but is now chosen at No 8.

Darlington scrum half Rob Stewart, who captained the team last season, retains his place but the captaincy passes to his half back colleague Paul Lee.

The team is coached by Darlington's Phil Lancaster, who has relinquished his place at prop to Blaydon's Dan Harper.

The two Horden players selected, goal-kicking centre Andrew Turner and lock Michael Thubron, are likely to find themselves under scrutiny from the Darlington clubs as they look for players capable of performing in National Three North.

Among the replacements is South African Jaco Lombarde, a powerful centre who has played for Consett this season.

Team: I Dixon (Darlington Mowden Park), Mick Kent (Consett), A Turner (Horden), C Lee (Darlington), A Foreman (Hartlepool), P Lee (Darlington, capt), R Stewart (Darlington), D Harper (Blaydon), Tasi Tuhana (Mowden Park), D Sinclair (Mowden Park), M Thubron (Horden), James Houghton (Blaydon), M Power (Hartlepool Rovers), M Howe (Darlington), Kelekolio Paino (Mowden Park). Replacements: D Haswell (Darlington), J Lombarde (Consett), B Mason (Westoe), M Thompson (Horden), D Osleton (Darlington), D Clark (Consett), S Bennett (West Hartlepool).