JONNY Wilkinson looks set to return to action after his two-month lay-off in Newcastle Falcons' Heineken Cup tie against Edinburgh at Murrayfield tomorrow.

The England captain has been named on the bench after coming safely through two full contact training sessions this week.

Director of Rugby Rob Andrew said: "It would be great if we could get Jonny some action. We will have to see how the match goes. We have been very happy this season to use the bench.

"Jonny and Dave Walder have probably played a similar number of games for us at fly half in the last three seasons. We need two quality players in that position and Dave is extremely important to us.

"This season he has been fantastically consistent. He stepped in at Newport in difficult conditions and ran the game and he carried it on from there. We have lost only two games in the two months he has been at the helm."

Following his comeback from the shoulder operation which restricted him to 58 minutes' rugby for the Falcons last season, Wilkinson played eight games before he was sidelined by a badly-bruised bicep.

He was not at his best and now has two months to prove he is ready to take up the England captaincy in the Six Nations Championship.

Prop Ian Peel, joint captain with Wilkinson at Newcastle, has been ruled out by neck and hamstring injuries, so Jamie Noon will lead the side and James Isaacson comes in at loose head.

Marius Hurter is at tight head, with Micky Ward providing cover and also on the bench is hooker Matt Thompson after recovering from his neck problem.

Craig Hamilton is at lock for Luke Gross, who has flu, and Stuart Grimes is again on the bench.

Darlington Mowden Park stalwart Dave Sinclair could have played his last game before leaving for New Zealand in the New Year.

The tight head prop has been soldiering on with a back problem in recent weeks, but came off in agony at Dudley Kingswinford last week.

With Danny Brown expected to be available Mowden have a ready-made replacement for tomorrow's home match against National Three North leaders Halifax.

After two games since his return from a hamstring injury, Mark Bedworth is sidelined by something similar and looks likely to be out until the return match against Dudley on January 8.

Martin Shaw returns after playing in Dubai last week, but there is a doubt about Tom Lauriston because of a dead leg.

Darlington visit Kendal, who are two places below them and a victory would see Darlington pull further away from the bottom group.

The Cumbrians have traditionally prospered on a heavy home pitch, but the dry spell may not necessarily work in Darlington's favour as Kendal have some speedy backs. Winger Jon Ladell became the division's leading try scorer with his hat-trick at Blaydon last week.

Darlington have a doubt about prop Joe Oselton because of a hamstring injury, but his brother Dan returns at hooker. Paul Scott stands by for his first league start for the club, with Paul Shepherd also available for bench duties.

Middlesbrough will be looking for their second win of the season in North One when they visit Liverpool St Helens, who are only one place above them. The Merseysiders are on the slide and their 43-0 defeat at Hull Ionians last week left them with a much poorer points difference than Boro.

In North Two East Stockton will have to find a way to stop Andy Foreman in their home match against Hartlepool Rovers. The ex-Blaydon and Mowden player scored four tries in last week's 57-8 win against Redcar.

Stockton hope to recall centre Mattie Oates, flanker Phil Austen, prop Jon Buddington and winger Stuart Brown.