NEWCASTLE Falcons are likely to field only one of their five new signings in tonight's Zurich Premiership match at Leeds.

Centre Mark Mayerhofler is doubtful with a groin injury, while fellow New Zealander James Christian will be out for two more weeks with his shoulder problem, allowing Nick Makin to continue at hooker.

Neither Warren Britz nor Craig Newby can force their way in following the outstanding back row performance in Saturday's win against Harlequins.

That leaves South African lock Mark Andrews as the only newcomer and he is again unlikely to play for more than 50 minutes.

Tom May will return for Mayerhofler as the Falcons seek to emulate last season's double over the Tykes, having beaten them 27-20 at home in September.

But Leeds are much-improved and signs they were slipping recently ended with last Sunday's 17-12 win at Bristol, which took them back to third place.

They include former West Hartlepool trio Mike Shelley, Chris Murphy and Dan Hyde up front and there will be an interesting clash of Scots in the back row between Andrew Mower and Cameron Mather. Mower and his Falcons teammate Stuart Grimes were both named in the Scotland squad yesterday for the opening Six Nations match.

While Mower was outstanding against Quins, Epi Taione was an even bigger revelation and Director of Rugby Rob Andrew said: "He knows he hasn't performed as well as he can this season.

"He might have thought it was going to be easy after last season, but you have to work hard at this game and he has done that in the last few weeks. Maybe the arrival of the new players has woken him up."

Jonny Wilkinson is fit after taking a bang on the shoulder last weekend.

The snow has gone from Blaydon's pitch and there is every reason for optimism that tomorrow's National Three North match against Darlington Mowden Park will be on.

With James Lofthouse unavailable, Dutch international Gerry Viguurs reverts to centre and Kevin McCallum will be on the wing. But the other former Mowden player, Tasi Tuhana, will be on the bench - Paul Ritson stays at hooker.

Paul Winter returns at prop and skipper Dave Guthrie is expected to have recovered from his back injury and will play at blind side.

After winning at Middlesbrough, Stockton's hopes of completing a derby double have been hit by injuries to player-coach Alan Brown and his brother Wayne, leaving decisions still to be made in the back row. Hooker Danny Muirhead and centre Matty Oates are unavailable, while Graham Kell is working away. Simon Moore switches to fly half, with Andy Bare coming in at full back, while Mark Burrows will be hooking and Danny Taylor is at centre.