NEWCASTLE Falcons are resting England centres Jamie Noon and Mathew Tait for tomorrow's European Challenge Cup tie away to Brive.

Tait has a slight injury but will be fit to face the All Blacks next weekend, if selected.

The Falcons' other England squad member, Toby Flood, continues at fly half but will have a centre pairing of Joe Shaw and Tom May outside him, with Tim Visser coming in on the left wing.

Skipper Matt Burke returns at full back for the trip to the French club, where Newcastle won 24-17 last season.

Scrum half James Grindal makes his 100th competitive appearance for the Faclons, and in the forwards Matt Thompson and Micky Ward return to the front row and Ben Woods is back at open side for Brent Wilson.

It's also cup day at local level tomorrow, with Darlington and Mowden Park both at home in the EDF Energy National Trophy, while Blaydon visit Percy Park.

Darlington should have few problems against Coventry-based Broadstreet, who are a level below them in Midlands One.

Hooker Dan Oselton and No 8 Alan Brown are likely to be rested after being injured at Blaydon last week, while Craig Lee is carrying a knee injury.

Rob Goddard and Matt Holmes can slot into the pack, but options are limited in the backs with Chris Barber a week away from fitness and Rob Stewart requiring a further two or three weeks to build up the strength in his arm.

Army man Apenai Kororua could also be available soon to inject some pace, but for the moment the only likely change will see James Beattie start on the wing with Simon Crozier switching to centre.

Mowden can continue with Naude Pretorius at lock for the visit of Cleckheaton as the RFU hearing deemed his sending-off against Morley to be sufficient punishment.

He committed two yellow card offences, the first for throwing the most obvious punch in a melee involving several others and the second for tackling a player who might otherwise have scored from a quickly-taken penalty.

In the Intermediate Cup West Hartlepool are at home to Tyldesley and Hartlepool Rovers to Wilmslow, but the draw has been unkind to the other North-East entrants.

Durham City go to Broughton Park, Horden to Carlisle and Middlesbrough to Winnington Park.

Neither Chris nor Ben Horton is available for Boro because of a family wedding and with skipper Iain Bradford also unavailable second team captain Andy Jackson is at No 8, Isa Warsama comes in at loose head and Peter Wrathmall will be at hooker. Andy Micklewright switches to centre and Ross McNeill is on the wing.

In the Senior Vase Stockton visit Acklam with a much-changed side as half the team are away on vice-captain Mark Skirving's stag weekend. Ian Todd will captain the team from No 8.