DARLINGTON Mowden Park have two new signings in their squad for tomorrow's Senior Knockout Cup fourth round tie at home to Manchester.

Durham University's highly-rated open side flanker Tom Long has every chance of making the starting line-up, while former Durham student Alan Ross is one of several options for tight head prop.

Ross, from Sunderland, is named along with local lad Nathan Throw and John Hodgson, who played for Newcastle University on Wednesday but suffered some reaction to a knee injury.

In the absence of regular tight head Dave Sinclair, who is serving a one-match ban after receiving three yellow cards, Mowden are likely to pack their bench with front row men.

Long, whose home club is Esher, played for Durham University in Wednesday's 29-20 win at home to Loughborough.

Chris Strong is likely to retain his place at centre after a promising debut last week and his tackling could be important as Manchester have a powerful Tongan centre named Peaufi Leuila.

They also have several ex-Sale players, including flanker Andy Morris and hooker Luke Hewson, while former Orrell and North of England flanker Paul Manley is their player/coach.

They lost 15-6 to Moseley in their last match two weeks ago and are in mid-table in Division One, which makes them a similar standard to Birmingham/Solihull, where Mowden narrowly lost at this stage last season.

Mowden should have had a league match at New Brighton and the first available date for rearranging that is December 29.

Blaydon visit Scunthorpe tomorrow, while West Hartlepool are at Whitchurch and Tynedale go to Bedford Athletic.

The pattern of all four North-East teams in National Three North playing home or away at the same time finally changes next week, when West visit Blaydon.

Mowden are at home to their third round cup victims, Dudley Kingswinford, next week in the first of four home league games in five weeks, which includes Blaydon on November 24 and Tynedale on December 1.

Prop Paul Winter, who played for England Under 21s while still at Blaydon, has rejoined the club after six years with Tynedale.

He comes into the squad tomorrow in the only change. Newcastle University scrum half David Gaule will continue after an excellent debut last week, while Charlie Roe will again be at No 8 with Andy Wright at open side.

Stockton will be without player/coach Alan Brown for the tough Intermediate Cup tie at Aspatria, where Middlesbrough lost a North One match 43-6 last week.

Brown's injury problems continue with a broken finger, and as there are also doubts about Brett Wildridge's ankle Phil Austen and Joe Green continue in the back row.

Winger Simon Crozier has had his broken nose re-set, so it is hoped Dave Cooke can deputise.

With centre Joff Staples unavailable Phil Shaw comes in at fly half and Lee Richardson switches to centre.