Darlington Mowden Park will draft in Newcastle Academy lock Andy Buist for tomorrow's National Three North match at home to unbeaten Waterloo.

Described as a 6ft 5in athlete, Buist will fill the gap left by Kelekolio Paino, who is to have a scan on his injured knee after surviving only five minutes on his comeback at Halifax last week.

Like the rest of the academy boys, Buist was registered by Mowden at the start of the season. But they have now had to re-register him as Newcastle took him back to join their Premiership squad three weeks ago.

Under the old regulations he would now have used up his three registrations for the season, but the RFU have now increased the allowance to six.

Although the registration rules left Martin Shaw without a game last weekend, Newcastle are hanging on to him for the moment, and with Chris Blacklock out with a foot injury Mowden must decide who to play alongside Gareth Kerr at centre.

Kerr made a good impression on his first league start last week and his pace is expected to be crucial against a side known for the speed of their backs.

Iain Dixon is expected to return after missing one game with a hand injury and one through illness.

Darlington go to third-placed New Brighton, where they gave a good account of themselves in the Powergen Cup last season, while Blaydon are at home to Dudley Kingswinford.

Blaydon have a doubt about centre Pete Kilburn because of a rib injury, but winger Colin Duncan and hooker Matt Hall should finally be fit to return.

There are no league games below national level tomorrow as it's a Powergen weekend, featuring the third rounds of the Intermediate Cup and the Junior Vase, plus the sixth round of the senior event with the Premiership clubs coming in.

In the intermediate event Middlesbrough entertain Aspatria, who are bottom of North Division One with only two points from eight games.

Horden are at home to Blackburn and hope to continue a run which has seen them win their last eight home ties in the competition since losing to Dudley Kingswinford six years ago.

They reached the sixth round that year, as they did last season.

In the Junior Vase Northallerton entertain Knottingley, who are a division above them in Yorkshire Two but have won only three of their eight league matches. Knottingley reached the sixth round last season.

* West Hartlepool lock Andrew Davies has been cleared to play again prior to going before an RFU hearing on December 2.

Davies was cleared at Liverpool Crown Court last week of charges relating to an eye injury suffered last season by West Park St Helens lock Sean Fletcher.

He had been banned sine die by the Durham RFU after failing to appear before them on the advice of his solicitor.

He was also cited by West Park, which is the reason for the forthcoming hearing, but Durham have ruled he may play in the meantime.

* There has been some confusion about the venue and kick-off time for Newcastle Falcons' Powergen Cup tie at Rotherham on Sunday. It will be the first cup tie Rotherham have played at Millmoor, the home of Rotherham United FC, and it kicks off at 3pm.