Darlington have re-signed two of the four players they lost to Mowden Park last summer.

Centre Andy Pugh is expected to be in action at Driffield tomorrow, while 6ft 8in lock Chris Oakley should be available for selection soon.

After emerging from the colts to spend two years in Darlington’s first team, the highly-rated Pugh featured regularly for Mowden for the first three months of this season, often alongside Ian Hodgson.

But neither was in the team selected for last Saturday’s postponed match at Beverley.

Powerful recent recruit Robin Eatough was chosen alongside South African Dean Kelbrick.

Mowden are now spoilt for choice in the backs and another ex-Darlington man, Ben Snook, who made the switch three years ago, has also faded from the first team picture.

Although regular lock Dan Squire is now being selected in the back row, Oakley would still find himself battling with Luke Monument, Gareth Lodge and Matt Wood for a second row place.

Neither Darlington club has played since December 12, but Mowden expect to host Birkenhead Park tomorrow, while Westoe will resume National Two North action at home to Hull.

The visitors have played twice during the last six weeks, maintaining a resurgence in which last week’s 20- 5 victory against Rugby Lions was their sixth successive win after losing eight of their first ten games.

They lost 25-18 at home to Westoe, but have climbed from third bottom to seventh top, immediately behind tomorrow’s hosts.

Westoe will be without two experienced forwards. With lock Paul Bird having already torn a calf muscle, prop Raymie Elliott has suffered a similar injury in training.

Lock Matthew Muchall and scrum half Chris Judson, unavailable for last week’s postponed game at Preston Grasshoppers, are back in the squad. Westoe have recruited back five forward Miles Scott, a Sedbergh School product who is with the Newcastle Academy.

Stockton hope to get their Durham and Northumberland One campaign restarted with a victory at ninth-placed Ryton, a team they beat 41-8 at home in early October.

Stockton will be without leading try scorer Tom Jeffery, but experienced Andy Bare comes in at full back.

Lock Phil Austen returns, but there are doubts over the fitness of veteran back row man Wayne Brown, who has tweaked his neck. So promising youngster Phil Douglas is on standby.