Darlington Mowden Park have signed Tongan international centre Suka Hufanga and he is in the squad for today's home match against National Three North leaders Halifax.

He has had two months with Division One club Pertemps Bees, formerly Birmingham/Solihull, but hopes to settle better with Mowden as he is a close friend of Newcastle's Epi Taione.

Suka also knows Mowden's injured lock Kelekolio Paino and made a good impression in his first training session at Kingston Park on Thursday night.

Taione has described him as one of Tonga's best players, but he made only one start for Pertemps Bees and went on twice as a replacement.

He could line up alongside Martyn Bray, who has recovered from injury, with Gareth Kerr switching to the wing as Steve Jones is unavailable.

Jon Dye returns to the squad, Richard Arnold is fit after limping off last week, and winger James Tyrrell is included for the first time this season.

Mark Bedworth is back in training, but Jonny Golightly has suffered another setback during his first game for over a year for the seconds at Blaydon last week.

After recovering from his knee operation, an old foot injury has recurred and he is to have an X-ray.

Darlington have been spared a difficult choice at scrum half for their match at Preston Grasshoppers as David Andrew is away on business.

He made his first senior appearance of the season for the decisive last 25 minutes of last week's home win against New Brighton, but his place on the bench goes to Leigh Johnson.

The one change to last week's starting line-up gives preference to youth with Tom Wilkinson taking over from Richie Taylor at lock. Wilkinson took over at half-time last week.

Prop Dan Miller has recovered from the groin injury which forced him off against New Brighton, but he could again make way at some stage for Paul Shepherd.

Shepherd will be keen to make an impression against his former club, as he did in the home match, which Darlington won 23-17.

Preston have gone backwards since then, and look almost doomed in second bottom place after losing 22-15 at home to Kendal last week.

With Darlington still involved in the scrap to avoid the third relegation place this would be a good time to record their first away win.

Blaydon are confident their match at home to title favourites Waterloo will be on, but hopes of ending the visitors' 100 per cent record have not been helped by injuries.

Director of Rugby Nick Gandy, normally a wing or centre, has been forced to select himself at scrum half following last week's injury to Nick Williams.

With Micky Dungait's future looking bleak as he continues to experience nerve pain from a prolapsed disc, Blaydon are looking for another scrum half.

They give former Northern player James Marwick his debut on the wing and have Peter Kilburn and Dan Clappison at centre in the continued absence of Matt Dehaty and Andy Kahn.

In North Two East Middlesbrough visit Horden without Ian Bircham, who has a knee injury, so either Ali Little or Simon Moore will play at fly half.

With Boro's next game at home to leaders Hull in two weeks, they are anxious to retain their one-point lead over third-placed Morpeth, who entertain West Hartlepool today.

After drawing at Boro last week to take their unbeaten run to seven games, West can now do their Teesside rivals a big favour as they seek to avenge their only home defeat of the season.

They recall David Tighe at scrum half with Darren Thomas dropping to the bench after being spared a ban by the Durham RFU this week following his sending-off against Hartlepool Rovers on Boxing Day.

Michael Geritz comes in at prop, with Anth Carr switching to lock alongside Paul Rudd.

Stockton entertain Westoe, looking to avenge a 29-13 defeat at South Shields. Scrum half Nicky Poole and prop Gary Skirving return in place of colts captain Owain Jenkins and Ben Jenkinson.