NEWCASTLE Falcons' fate has been left firmly in their own hands after Premier Rugby announced that the Premiership will not be expanded.

There was talk of scrapping relegation this season and promoting both Worcester and Rotherham to create a 14-club league.

But it has been confirmed that only one of those clubs will go up, replacing the bottom side in the Premiership.

Worcester are three points ahead of Rotherham, who have a game in hand but have to visit their rivals next Saturday.

London Irish have slipped to the bottom of the Premiership, four points behind the Falcons but with a game in hand, which they play tomorrow, when they visit Saracens.

After losing at home to Harlequins in their last match, Irish are currently favourites for the drop, although they have home games against Leeds and Bristol among their five remaining matches.

Newcastle visit leaders Gloucester next week, then have home games against Northampton (April 20) and Saracens (May 4) before finishing off at Bath.

Bath also have a home game against London Irish next week, which they will need to win to prevent further rumblings about how such a prestigious club cannot be allowed to go down.

The Falcons will tune up for the Gloucester trip by tackling the Borders at Kingston Park today (2.30), although Jonny Wilkinson is not expected to take part after his bruising time at Lansdowne Road last Sunday.

He does insist, however, that the shoulder and mouth injuries he suffered are not a problem and has told Clive Woodward that he doesn't wish to be wrapped in cotton wool prior to the World Cup in October.

England are travelling to play Australia and New Zealand in June and Woodward hinted that he might leave his prize asset behind.

But Wilkinson said: "It's no use travelling to the World Cup and finding out that we've got a number of problems. Everything has to be ironed out pre-October and I want to be part of that."

Darlington Mowden Park will decide this morning whether fly half Mark Bedworth is fit to play at home to Liverpool St Helens.

He visited Kingston Park for treatment on his elbow yesterday, but if he is ruled out Iain Dixon will switch to fly half, with Jonno Wilson at full back and Anthony Elwine at centre.

With Soa Otuvaka still injured, Jon Dye returns in place of unavailable flanker Tony Irwin.

Darlington hope to clinch promotion from North Division One by winning at Aspatria. They also have to visit Birkenhead Park next week, but this should be the easier game as the Cumbrians are fourth from the bottom.

With a points difference of 436 compared with second-placed Macclesfield's 259, it would take an extraordinary scoreline in Macclesfield's final match at Aspatria next week for them to overhaul Darlington.

There are doubts about flanker Martin Howe, who missed last week's game with a neck injury, and fly half Paul Lee, who has been carrying a groin problem for much of the season.

But the chances are that both will be pressed into service as Darlington are anxious to secure the one win they need today in a match which kicks off at 2.15.

If Lee isn't fit his brother Craig could switch to fly half with Tosh McIntee coming in at centre and David Andrew providing cover on the bench.

West Hartlepool have appointed Rod Maclure as their coach in succession to John Stabler, who is standing down at the end of the season. Maclure will be assisted by Keith Lupton, renewing the partnership which coached Blaydon's Development XV before briefly switching last summer to Darlington Mowden Park, where a difference of opinion led to their exit.

The father of Gareth Maclure, who is now with the Falcons, Maclure senior ran a West colts team which included current first- teamers Allan Milne, Paul Rudd and Carl Robinson, plus Sammy Hutton.

President Ron Greig said: "Rod was recommended by a number of present players who have been coached by him before."