NEWCASTLE Falcons have always relied heavily on Scottish internationals in the professional era, and tomorrow will be no exception when Perpignan visit Kingston Park in the Heineken Cup.

In the week when they have said goodbye to Scotland flanker Andy Mower, locks Stuart Grimes and Craig Hamilton will have a huge role to play against the crack French side.

A few years ago it would have been Gary Armstrong, Doddie Weir, George Graham and Peter Walton bringing a tartan flavour to the team, now it's predominantly Grimes.

With 63 caps under his belt, the 30-year-old Aberdonian is a veteran compared with Hamilton, who is five years his junior and won his first cap in Australia during the summer.

Born in Dumfries, Hamilton played for Scottish Students and although first-team chances have been limited, his four years with the Falcons have developed him into a full international.

"He did really well in Australia in the summer," said Grimes. "And when he has come on from the bench for the Falcons this season he has been effective.

"It's great that we now have that depth in the squad and for this match we have Andy Buist on the bench and he has been looking great in training. He has also been in sensational form in the Development XV, so this will be a big opportunity for him if he gets on."

At 6ft 6in, 21-year-old Buist is two inches shorter than Hamilton, who in turn falls an inch below the man he replaces, Luke Gross.

Hamilton is also a couple of stones lighter than the 19st 6lb American, whose four-week ban for fighting in last week's win at Newport has not been contested by the club.

The Falcons could miss Gross's extra bulk, with Grimes saying: "We have watched Perpignan on the tape and as with a lot of French sides they have a very big front five.

"They place massive emphasis on their scrummaging and really go at teams there. They are aggressive but we know what we are up against and have to execute our game plan to counter them.

"Traditional thinking is that French sides don't travel very well, but Perpignan have a lot of foreigners in their squad and they beat Leinster away in a Heineken Cup semi-final two years ago."

Apart from bringing in Hamilton, the Falcons have made three other changes to the starting line-up from last week's match at Newport.

James Isaacson, who hooked in that game, drops to the bench with Matt Thompson returning after a neck injury, while Marius Hurter replaces Micky Ward at tight head and Hall Charlton is at scrum half

Director of Rugby Rob Andrew said: "We know we have to be physical. They are very big, direct and powerful and basically destroyed Edinburgh last week, when they should have won by 50 points.

"The set piece will be a key area and bringing back Marius will help. We also need to deliver our own line-out ball, which is one reason for starting with Matt Thompson.

"The back row had a better balance last week with Phil Dowson back, but having Semo Sititi and Epi Taoine on the bench gives us the opportunity to change the course of a game. Epi didn't go on last week because he wasn't 100 per cent, but he has trained well this week."

Perpignan have made five changes from the side which beat Edinburgh 23-0 but have retained Dan Luger on the left wing.

He moved to France to take up a two-and-a-half-year contract straight after the World Cup last November and hasn't played for England since looking out of sorts in the quarter-final against Wales in Brisbane.

After scoring 24 tries in 38 Tests he was suddenly out in the cold, but he is back in the England squad and will be out to prove tomorrow that he deserves to be there ahead of Newcastle pair Michael Stephenson and Tom May.

Perpignan are passionately supported and are expected to bring a following of several hundred, who are said to be keen to mix with the locals and share the food and wine they bring with them.

Darlington Mowden Park will be hoping their Yiewsley Drive surface allows them to play the sort of fluent rugby which twice destroyed today's visitors Kendal last season.

After a poor display last week in a match at Fylde which failed to produce any tries, Mowden need a third successive home win if they are to entertain any hope of climbing above mid-table in National Three North.

They topped 70 points in Kendal's visit in the Powergen Cup early last season and also thrashed them in the league.

Darlington go to second-placed Macclesfield, where they have won on their last two visits, while Blaydon visit Cleckheaton, who have slipped down the table after winning their first two games.

Blaydon have Dan Clappison back at fly half, but are without lock Paul Vinnicombe.