BLAYDON'S promotion bandwagon rolls into Darlington today for a clash between the meanest and most prolific forwards in National Three North.

Darlington's pack have scored 53 of their 86 league tries this season, ten more than Bradford and Bingley, their nearest rivals in this department.

But Blaydon have conceded only nine forward tries, two fewer than anyone else, and their record of 36 conceded in total is the joint lowest in the division alongside Nuneaton.

No 8 Alan Brown has scored 21of Darlington's tries, but when both he and lock Richard Snowball were injured in the first half at Blaydon in December it became a one-sided contest, the hosts winning 50-8.

While Darlington have won their last four games, on a heavy ground they will find it tough to live with the power of the visiting pack.

Blaydon are determined to win their four remaining games in the hope of at least claiming the promotion play-off place, although they have not given up hope of finishing top.

They are six points behind Bradford and Bingley, who have a game in hand but face a hard test today at Tynedale.

Although Austrian international scrum half Nick Williams will miss the next two games, Blaydon are keeping faith with him today as James Kyle has only just returned to training following an injury suffered three weeks ago.

Kyle is their second highest try-scorer with ten, while centre Sua Segi has 12 and powerful winger Andrew Fenby scored nine in his first seven games.

With pacy full back Michael Campbell on the bench after recovering from flu, Blaydon again have student Dan Graney at full back in an unchanged side.

Both sides have picked up 14 four-try bonus points and Blaydon will be desperate for another as they attempt to maintain their three-point lead over Nuneaton, who visit them in two weeks.

A tough run-in for Darlington continues with a visit to Mowden Park next week and Mowden could soon have a choice to make at fly half, which has been a problem position since coach Kevan Oliphant had to retire.

The latest recruit, Anthony Mellalieu, looks certain to miss today's game at Hull Ionians because of a neck injury so Mowden Park were last night trying to bring in Mark Laycock.

Although the Newcastle Development XV player has not appeared this season, he has played for Mowden in the past and they are keen to have him in the future. They could also have South African Johann Booysen fit for the last two games of the season.

Former Blaydon forwards Gavin Stainsby and Ricky Bagier are unavailable, so Eni Gisende will be at No 8 with Matt Wright and Andrew Tonkin completing the back row.

As neither Danny Brown nor Mark Darlington are fit, young props Richard Littlefair and Chris Millington will be on the bench.

Middlesbrough are hoping to find their best form of the season at home to second-placed West Park St Helens as they attempt to hang on to their North One status.

With three games left, Boro need to climb above Caldy, who are three points ahead of them but have played a game more and have no match today.

The Cheshire club are at home to Westoe next week and finish off at Acklam Park on April 22 in what could be the relegation decider.

Boro will be in real trouble if they lose today and slip back below Longton, who will hope to win at home to Chester and away to doomed Whitchurch.

Boro's other game is at Huddersfield next week and inbetween they are scheduled to visit Wheatley Hills in the first round of the Yorkshire Cup on Tuesday.

Lee Richardson is injured, so Andy Micklewright switches to centre with Pedro Salahshouri coming in on the wing.

* Durham have had to abandon their insistence that the county cup final must be played on the scheduled date of April 29.

Given that their priority is promotion, Blaydon have said they cannot play their first round tie at Mowden Park until that date, by which time Mowden's overseas contingent will have gone home. Darlington await the winners.