NEWCASTLE Falcons will have skipper Mark Andrews in their line-up at Northampton today, but they might have to do without him for the next few weeks.

The South African lock goes before an RFU hearing on Tuesday following his sending off at Harlequins last week and the video evidence is unlikely to spare him from a suspension.

Andrews is alleged to have dropped his knee on to a prostrate opponent's head in a ruck.

He claims he was responding to being grabbed where it hurts and lowered his knee towards Pat Sanderson's chest, but the evidence apparently does not support him.

As he had already received a yellow card at Leicester, which contributed towards the Tigers overhauling an 18-3 deficit, Andrews has not made the best of starts as the Falcons' captain.

He is likely to miss at least next Saturday's Sky-televised match at home to leaders Bath and the trip to Wasps the following Sunday. The next two games after that are both at home to Rotherham, first in the Premiership then in the fourth round of the Powergen Cup, with a 2pm kick-off on November 16.

Assuming Scotland are knocked out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals, Stuart Grimes will be back by November 16.

But in the meantime Craig Hamilton would have to deputise for Andrews, unless Hugh Vyvyan switches from No 8 to lock.

The latter would seem more likely at the moment as they have named two back row men on the bench today in Epi Taione and Phil Dowson.

They join hooker Matt Thompson, prop Micky Ward and three backs, including Tom May and David Walder.

May scored a hat-trick two weeks ago in the impressive win against Gloucester, but both sides in today's clash seem to be relying on players' ability to lift themselves against former clubs.

Newcastle have brought in Joe Shaw at full back, with Ben Gollings switching to the wing, while Northampton include ex-All Black John Leslie at centre.

Leslie proved to be one of the few unsuccessful signings Rob Andrew has made for the Falcons and his call-up will not be sending any palpitations through the Newcastle ranks.

He replaces Teessider Chris Hyndman, a product of St Michael's School, Billingham, and the Middlesbrough club, who is on the Northampton bench.

A letter from the RFU to Newcastle has finally confirmed that Andrews, Taione and South African flanker Warren Britz need no longer be considered overseas players.

The Falcons were allowed to play all three during the World Cup, but after the final on November 22 clubs may field only one overseas man.

The fact that Britz can stay in the side cushions the blow of having to write off Andy Mower for the rest of the season following the knee ligament injury he suffered during World Cup training with Scotland. He had an operation in Brisbane yesterday and plans to stay with relatives in Sydney for at least a month. He will then return to Kingston Park to start his rehabilitation but will not be fit before April.

Darlington Mowden Park have reshuffled their backs for today's National Three North match at home to Liverpool St Helens.

They have moved Mark Bedworth to full back, Iain Dixon to the right wing and Dave Richardson to fly half, with Chris Blacklock coming in for his debut alongside Martin Shaw at centre.

Blacklock is a Durham boy who went to Sedbergh School and has spent time with Sale and Wakefield.

It's an impressive looking back division, but much will hinge on the speed of service from scrum half Andy Foreman.

His strength is his speed off the mark and his sniping breaks, but although he scored 20 tries from scrum half for Blaydon two years ago they felt he never brought the best out of the other backs.

Danny Brown steps in for Ian Keeligan, and with Tom McLaren out with a dead leg the back row is shuffled. Eni Gisende makes his first start at No 8 with Tony Irwin at blind side and Richard Arnold at No 7.

Blaydon have injury problems for the home match against New Brighton, with hooker Matt Hall (knee) and No 8 James Keany (shoulder) both out for at least four weeks.

Peti Keni switches to No 8 with Sam Walton at blind side, forcing Charlie Roe to hook.

There is also a change at centre, with Andy Kahn returning for the unavailable Peter Kilburn.