BLAYDON'S powerful squad has run into injury problems as their National Three North promotion bid reaches its climax.

They need maximum points from what is bound to be a fiercely-fought derby in their final game at Tynedale today to stay five points ahead of Nuneaton, their rivals for the play-off place.

The Midlanders look certain of a maximum haul against relegated Kendal then visit leaders Bradford and Bingley next week before finishing off against Cleckheaton.

That means if Blaydon qualify for the play-off away to Cambridge or North Walsham they will probably have to wait until May 13, by which time skipper Dave Guthrie will be in South Africa with the British Police squad.

There has been talk of flying him back, although that decision might be influenced by whether or not fellow back row man Pat Segi has recovered from injury.

He failed a fitness test yesterday, while prop Justin Clarke is very doubtful and there is also a question mark over centre Martin Shaw.

With Croatian prop Ivan Nola also injured, Paul McLaren-Dorrington would come in for Clarke and if Shaw is ruled out Dan Graney will switch to centre with Michael Campbell reverting to full back and Simon Barber returning on the wing.

Darlington hope to climb above Tynedale and make sure of finishing fourth by winning at home to Fylde.

"We did not perform when we visited them in the first match of the season, so we want to continue from where we left off at Tynedale last week and show them what we can do," said player-coach Craig Lee. "Fylde are a big side so it might be a good idea to run them about."

That means the mobile Stuart Palmer could start at lock with Phil Dawson and Michael Taylor joining Alan Brown in the back row.

Talk of the two Darlington clubs amalgamating has caused quite a stir at Mowden Park, but Lee is adamant it should happen.

"Some people argue it would reduce the opportunities for youngsters," he said. "But we wouldn't lose them and as one club we would go from strength to strength as long as we didn't do a West Hartlepool and lose our home."

Mowden end their season at Preston Grasshoppers, where they want one point to ensure they don't finish third from the bottom just in case the RFU move the relegation goalposts again.

There is again a doubt about skipper Iain Dixon because of a recurrence of his tonsillitis, but Tim Visser returns alongside Gareth Kerr at centre as they are not required by Newcastle Falcons for the Langholm Sevens.

Eni Gesinde will be at Langholm, but with hooker Mark Darlington available Junior Fagalilo is able to play at No 6. Rob Kalbraier starts at loose head with Ian Keeligan on the bench, where he is joined by centre Roddy Gouionnet following his latest head injury.

Middlesbrough will be safe in North One if they win at home to Caldy, who are one point ahead of them, and Longton lose either of their last two games away to Chester and Westoe.

Centre Dave Richardson returns after injury with Andy Micklewright switching to the wing. Simon O'Farrell retains his place on the other wing as Pedro Salahshouri is injured.

With Richie Barker returning at blind side Ben Pattison switches to No 8 and skipper Ian Bradford to lock, with Chris Palesci dropping to the bench.

Although scrum half Peter Wright and hooker Richard Horton went on late in the game, Boro fielded a second XV in the Yorkshire Cup quarter-final at home to Beverley, which they lost 34-20 after extra-time. Redcar cast the county cups into further disrepute by handing Hull a walkover into the semi-finals.

Stockton complete their North Two East programme at Alnwick with Paul Armstrong making his debut at scrum half as Owain Jenkins has an ankle injury. Veteran Ian Fleetham comes in for unavailable tight head Simon Brown.

Newcastle Falcons No 8 Phil Dowson, who suffered a prolapsed disc in his neck in September, makes his return in the Langholm Sevens today.

The former England Sevens man said: "It has been a tough eight months but everyone at the club as been extremely supportive.

"To play in sevens is the logical next step as it gets me back on the pitch and I will find out how far from match fitness I am."

* In the County Under 20s Championship semi-finals tomorrow week Northumberland face Devon at Plymouth and Yorkshire entertain Oxfordshire at Bradford and Bingley.