NEWCASTLE Falcons will be relying on the boot of Jonny Wilkinson, rather than David Walder, to kick them to victory at Gloucester today.

Six penalties by Walder gave the Falcons an 18-16 home win against Gloucester last month when Wilkinson was on England duty.

It was a victory they scarcely deserved and Philippe Saint-Andre's men will be thirsting for revenge at the Kingsholm fortress, where only Leicester have won this season.

Gloucester, in fourth spot, are one place and one point ahead of the Falcons, who have struggled to score tries recently against the well-organised defences which now prevail.

Last weekend's enforced rest has given Inga Tuigamala an extra week to recover from his calf injury, leaving Liam Botham and Andrew Mower as the only definite non-starters.

This is the last Premiership game for a month as Newcastle entertain Leinster in the European Cup next Saturday (6.15) then complete their Heineken programme at Newport before visiting Leeds in the Powergen Cup quarter-finals the following weekend.

The revamped Durham Cup kicks off today with holders Darlington visiting Stockton, where they topped 50 points in the second round last season.

With only eight teams involved in the senior competition, the other matches being played today are Westoe v Durham City and Consett v West Hartlepool.

The Blaydon v Darlington Mowden Park tie will be held next week as part of a National Division Three North double-header.

With Phil Shaw unavailable, Lee Richardson moves to fly half for Stockton, with Dave Turner at full back and Pedro Salahshouri on the wing.

Stockton won the cup five times in the 1990s before a decline set in with several of their players moving to Darlington.

Among those who will be in the visiting ranks today are Paul and Craig Lee, Bryan Dixon and Simon White. But winger Paul Beattie is still out with a hamstring injury.

The first round ties in the new Durham Intermediate Cup today are: Gateshead v Billingham, Ryton v Hartlepool Rovers, Houghton v West Hartlepool TDSOB, Horden v Winlaton Vulcans.

Mowden will be without James Isaacson for the rearranged league match at New Brighton as the Newcastle prop has tonsilitis.

Lock Ian James returns to the squad after being out for more than two months with a shoulder injury and Kevin McCallum is available to play at full back.

Mark Bedworth, who was selected at No 15 last week, could revert to centre as Mick Kent arranged a holiday in the belief that this would be a vacant date.

Blaydon go to Tynedale for the match postponed last week and have selected Nick Gandy at fly half as James Lofthouse and David Dalrymple are both unavailable. Iain Dixon will be at centre alongside South African Morne Marais.

With George Donoghue unavailable, Paul Winter will play at tight head. With Derek Dixon at loose head, both props are playing against their former club.

Andy Wright comes in for injured flanker John O'Malley.

Middlesbrough decided against rearranging last week's North One visit of Chester for today, with the match now likely to go ahead on January 19.