NEWCASTLE Falcons are happy to kick off their Premiership campaign at home to Saracens tomorrow with David Walder deputising at fly half for Jonny Wilkinson.

Walder missed almost the whole of last season after breaking a leg, but recovered well enough to be in England's preliminary World Cup squad.

Neither he nor centre Jamie Noon made the final cut, however, and other than Wilkinson the only absentees on World Cup duty are Scots Andy Mower and Stuart Grimes.

Newcastle have covered Grimes' absence by re-signing Garath Archer, who partners new captain Mark Andrews in a powerful second-row pairing.

Teams are allowed to play three overseas men during the World Cup, so Mower should not be greatly missed either as South African Warren Britz plays at open side with Epi Taione at No 6.

In any case, it is hoped that Andrews, Britz and Taione will shortly be cleared to play as non-overseas players under a trade agreement with the EU which includes South Africans and Pacific Islanders.

With Hugh Vyvyan at No 8 the Falcons have a formidable back five and the only slight problem is in the front row. Last season's Player of the Year, Ian Peel, has had an injury and starts on the bench, while there is no experienced cover for hooker Nick Makin.

Former Scotland hooker Steve Brotherstone, who missed most of last season with an ankle injury, has joined Gloucester and Matt Thompson has suffered something similar in training. Wales Under-21 hooker Will Kay, from Stockton, is in tomorrow's squad.

Prop James Isaacson, who was being groomed for a switch to hooker, broke a leg in a roadside accident in the USA during the summer and will be out until Christmas.

The only other casualty is former All Blacks centre Mark Mayerhofler, who has a calf injury.

Saracens' new coach, Australian Rod Kafer, hands a debut to former Ashington and West Hartlepool prop Steve Sparks, who has been signed from Castres.

Among their other signings are former All Blacks back row man Taine Randell and French hooker Raphael Ibanez. Thomas Castaignede will be at full back as he is not in the French World Cup squad.

Former Newcastle captain Richard Arnold has suffered a recurrence of his back problem and has had to delay today's expected debut for Darlington Mowden Park.

They field an unchanged pack for the visit of Blaydon in National Division Three North, but make changes in the backs with last week's hat-trick hero, Dave Richardson, switching from centre to fly half.

Newcastle Academy player Nick Hooper comes in at 12 with Mark Bedworth at outside centre. One of last season's centres, Ollie Phillips, has been registered but is unavailable until next week.

After scoring two tries as a replacement last week, Andy Foreman keeps his place on the wing against one of his former clubs.

Blaydon have added former Mowden hooker Matt Hall to their squad and if he plays former Harlequins Under-21 hooker Sam Walton could switch to the back row.

Blaydon could also introduce Northumbria University centre Matt Deharty, with Peter Kilburn switching to the wing for the injured Simon Barber.

Darlington begin life in National Three with a visit from once-mighty Waterloo and have signed an Irish flanker in Andrew Carphin, a former Northumbria University student now teaching at Newcastle RGS.

He takes over from unavailable Nick Pritchard in an otherwise unchanged squad which was left with a problem at full back when Graham Haswell strained a hamstring during the warm-up last week.

Kieron Thompson, last season's incumbent, announced he was going to play football when Haswell was preferred, while another candidate, David Andrew, is going to the World Cup and will not be available until his return.

Hooker Dan Osleton plays what looks likely to be his last match for a while as he returns to Bath University next week and has joined Newbury.

Waterloo field the full threequarter line from the Lancashire team which won the County Championship last season.

Former West Hartlepool and Newcastle player Phil Belgian returns at fly half for Tynedale at Fylde.

In North Two East Middlesbrough recall former player-coach John Dixon for the trip to Northern as Tom Ellis and Mark Featherstone are playing for their college team. The latter's place at centre goes to Andy Micklewright, with David Bishop at full back. Hooker Richard Horton returns in place of Ross Groves.

After losing 34-8 at Boro last week, Stockton face another derby at home to Redcar, who lost their opening match 28-6 at home to Morpeth.

Stockton could leave out Wayne Brown, who was sent off last week, with Phil Austen coming into the back row. Wing Andy Bare is expected to be available.

West Hartlepool visit Hull with 40 players as their relaunched second XV, the Stags, are going along for the ride. Their first scheduled match is against Westoe in two weeks.

Two 18-year-olds, full back Martin Todd and winger Carl Miller, could retain their places after promising debuts last week.

Horden hope to follow their 25-18 home win against Northern with a victory at York.

* Two Durham School products have joined Bath. Full back Lee Best is among several former Bristol players who have made the switch and former Newcastle hooker Christian "Billy" Balshen has signed from Swansea.

* RFU President Robert Horner will watch the Northumberland and Durham division two match between Barnard Castle and Ryton today. He is on his way from a dinner at Penrith RFC last night to tomorrow's Falcons match.