DARLINGTON Mowden Park No 8 Jason Smithson is keen to play at Leicester Lions tomorrow, despite being told he needs an operation.

The former Newcastle Falcons man has been booked in for surgery early next month after the adductor muscle he tore two months ago gave way in the warm-up before the last match.

Smithson has been told he would do no further damage by playing, but if there is a danger of the discomfort rendering him less effective the club are unlikely to risk him.

They have added back row cover in Gavin Stainsby, who is ready to return after the 24-week ban imposed for stamping last season.

Mowden are spoilt for choice in the backs with Anthony Mellalieu and Gareth Kerr back from the Dubai Sevens. They are vying for places in the back five with Michael Breen, Iain Dixon, Peter Phelan, Ben Allerton and Simon Jennions, who played well on the wing against Tynedale, while Ben Snook has also joined from Darlington.

Having given up hope of shifting Craig Lee from inside centre, Snook might find he has the same problem with Mowden skipper Jamie Connolly, although that's not to say there won't be a vacancy at both clubs next season.

Darlington are looking for a good response to last week's cup nightmare at Clifton when they visit Orrell determined not to become the first club this season to lose to National Three North's bottom club.

Middlesbrough hope to pull clear at the top of North Two East by completing a double over West Hartlepool, while nearest challengers Driffield face a tough trip to Rochdale.

Flanker Martin Howe will be making his first start for Boro since being concussed in last month's win at West, who banned lock Andrew Davies for eight weeks for his part in the incident.

Fly half Paul Lee also suffered a head injury in that match, and although he started the next game he didn't complete it and has since been out first through injury then holiday.

He will be back tomorrow, with Lee Rust moving to centre in place of Dave Richardson, who has suffered a recurrence of his hamstring problem.

Simon O'Farrell will be alongside Rust, while Danny Poole makes his first appearance of the season on the wing.

Howe is partnered in the back row by Richie Barker and Ben Pattinson, with Gavin Fingland on the bench and Matt Wright will shortly be fit to the add to the selection dilemma.

Stockton will be without front row men Tony Traynor and Dan Muirhead for their trip to Ryton, so Ian Fleetham and Gareth Foulkes come in.

* Newcastle Falcons have made two changes for Sunday's European Challenge Cup visit of French side Montauban (3pm).

The Falcons need a win to keep alive their chances of quarter-final qualification, and have kept the same pack from last Friday's 16-10 defeat in Montauban. James Grindal comes in for Lee Dickson at scrum half, and Tim Visser takes the place of John Rudd on the left wing.

Visser will be on the bench, where the other backs replacement is Loki Crichton, who has been registered as the one wild card allowed in the tournament.

* The youngest of the Simpson-Daniel brothers, Charles, is in the North Under 18 squad to begin preparations for the England trials with a session at Kingston Park tomorrow and a match against Caledonia Schools at Blaydon on Sunday (2pm).

There are two inter-divisional games on December 28 with the Midlands meeting London & South East at Walsall RFC, followed by the North against the South West (5pm). The winners and losers will then meet on December 30 at Castlecroft, Wolverhampton.

The North squad includes: Andrew Archibald (Whickham Sports Coll, Blaydon RUFC), Rob Bell (Durham), Rory Clegg (Barnard Castle, Durham), Chris Peace (Sedbergh, Malton & Norton, Yorkshire), James Reekie (Northumberland), Charles Simpson-Daniel (Sedbergh, Durham), Will Welch (RGS, Newcastle, Newcastle Falcons, Northumberland).

The North Under 16 squad had a development weekend at Catterick involving over 60 players, but that number has been pruned to 40 for tomorrow's final North trial at Cheadle Hulme School (1pm).

Among those involved are: Robbie Cuthbertson, Luke Bowler (both St Peter's York), James Stansby (Durham School), Matthew Spedding (Thirsk School), Jonny Bartlet (Barnard Castle), Tom Catterick (Barnard Castle), Alex Grey (Barnard Castle).