NEWCASTLE will not be lulled into a false sense of security by Harlequins' injury problems before tomorrow's European Shield semi-final at Headingley.

Quins threatened to pull out in midweek when they were refused permission to play their under 19 hooker Johnny Roddam, who was not among the 30 players they are allowed to register for this competition.

With Ireland's Keith Wood concentrating on getting fit for the Lions' tour after popping a rib last week, Quins will have to play their second choice hooker Tani Fuga, who has recovered from an ankle injury.

If he fails to get through the game he will have to be replaced by a prop, but at least Quins' talk of having to play the match with uncontested scrums has receded.

They had Rob Andrew's full sympathy in their attempts to register Roddam, which were refused on the grounds that it would set an unwanted precedent.

Andrew has his own injury worries, but Jonny Wilkinson is expected to play, although the recurrence of his neck injury is a worry.

There are doubts about centre Tom May (dead leg) and flanker Andrew Mower (hamstring), so Andrew has named a squad of 24 which includes Liam Botham after recovering from hamstring and shoulder problems.

After five years with the Falcons, hooker Ross Nesdale is to retire at the end of the season and return to New Zealand, so he is among those desperate to win this competition.

Newcastle beat Harlequins in the Tetley's Bitter Cup final after a controversial injury time try, but then lost a Premiership match at home to the Londoners - a defeat which ultimately cost them a place in the top four.

l BLAYDON have secured sponsorship of almost £7,000 for their trip to Twickenham for today's Intermediate Cup final.

With prizemoney amounting to only £2,064 for themselves and Cheltenham-based opponents Old Patesians, they are delighted to have received £5,000 worth of backing from Scottish and Newcastle Breweries.

Unitech and Gateshead Council are also putting money in, while Cougar have supplied a new set of strips, plus track suits and rain tops, and the RFU provide £1,000 to cover the transport.

Blaydon left at 8am yesterday and were offered the chance to inspect Twickenham at 2.30 before training at London Irish at 4pm.

Coach Graham Clarkson, who went on for the last half hour in the semi-final win against Richmond, has been selected at No 8 with skipper Dave Guthrie switching to lock.

It's all part of Blaydon's plan to use the wide open spaces of Twickenham to counter the forward-dominated approach of their opponents.

Consequently the speedy Andy Foreman gets the vote at scrum half, relegating Ben Stevenson to the bench, while Jake Hirst is preferred to Iain Dixon at centre.

Blaydon: G King, A Savory, D Michniewicz, J Hirst, G Spearman, D Dalrymple, A Foreman, C Harrison, P Ritson, G Donaghue, J Oakes, D Guthrie (capt), J Dye, T Russell, G Clarkson.

With six coachloads travelling, and others going by car, train and plane, Blaydon hope to have 400 supporters at Twickenham.

Among those attending will be the local MP John McWilliam and former British Lions lock Steve Bainbridge, who ended his career with Blaydon.

Stockton player-coach Alan Brown warned that his team will not be doing visitors Middlesbrough any favours today in their fight against relegation.

Although Stockton are already down, barring a shifting of the goalposts, they have won their last two games and Brown said: "We want to finish on a high.

"Our match against Wigton won't be played so this is our last game and we want to go out with a bit of glory.

"Apart from being a league game, this is a derby and we won't be doing them any favours.

"We have to make sure we keep going forward. Boro's backs are quite sharp so we have to get on top in the forwards."

Brown returns in place of Joe Green, but goal-kicking fly half Jeremy Good is playing for Notts, Lincs and Derby against Durham at Hartlepool Rovers. Joff Staples, normally a centre, takes over the No 10 shirt.

Boro, who progressed to the third round of the Yorkshire Cup in midweek by beating Hull, will have Irishmen Wes Henry and Richard McRae back.

Hull Ionians have reluctantly agreed to fulfil the fixture at Darlington Mowden Park they pulled out of three weeks ago.

Mowden have shuffled their threequarters with Chris Mattison on the wing for Mick Kent and Jonny Golightly joining Tony Elwine at centre. Tony Irwin and Aaron Radaelli return in the back row.

Mowden were hoping to play Blaydon next week, but the Tynesiders have arranged visits to Chester and Sheffield for the next two Saturdays, so their visit to Yiewsley Drive looks like being on May 12.

Mowden hope to arrange a friendly in the meantime and might approach Durham County, whose scheduled match against Yorkshire next Saturday will not go ahead.

Skipper Craig Lee has again pulled out of the Durham team today because of an ankle injury, which he must rest for ten days. His place at centre goes to Westoe's Peter Atherton.