DURHAM have had to make three changes to their selected team for today's Tetley's County Championship match against holders Yorkshire at Wharfedale.

Darlington prop Phil Lancaster and Mowden Park flanker Darren McKinnon are unavailable, while West Hartlepool centre Jamie Connolly has a knee injury.

Two West players, Brett Cullinane and Tim Sawyer, take over in the pack, while the centre spot goes to Hartlepool Rovers captain Ian Drummond.

Although Yorkshire were unable to raise a team for a friendly with Lancashire last week, Durham will have their work cut out as all but one of the home side are from division one and two clubs.

Durham: David Glendenning (Darlington), Stephen Jones (Darlington Mowden Park), Ian Drummond (Hartlepool Rovers), Craig Lee (Darlington), Wes Henry (Middlesbrough), Kevan Oliphant (Mowden Park), Rob Stewart (Darlington, capt), Brett Cullinane (West Hartlepool), Tasi Tuhana (Blaydon), Dan Miller (Darlington), Chris Webb (West Hartlepool), James Houghton (Blaydon), T Sawyer (West Hartlepool), Martin Howe, Del Lewis (Darlington)

Yorkshire: J Davies (Wharfedale), S Dixon (Rotherham), P Greaves (Otley), R Winney (Wakefield), M Kirkby (Otley), C Stephens (Sedgley Park), A Brown (Otley), S Bunting (Rotherham), J Lawn (Wharfedale, capt), R Latham (Sedgley Park), M Smith (Halifax), D Lister (Wharfedale), J Dudley (Harrogate), H Verity (Wharfedale), J Burke (Otley).

The event features 16 teams, with the final to be held at Twickenham on June 1, along with the final of the Tetley's County Shield.

There were initially 11 teams in the Shield, including Northumberland, who beat Buckinghamshire 52-14 in the first round.

The Shield finalists will be promoted to the main event next season, while the losing semi-finalists will win the right to take part in the play-offs to determine the seedings for next season.

Terry Burwell, the RFU Community Rugby and Operations Director, said: "Every match will have an impact on where each county is seeded next season and for which knockout competition they will be eligible.

"The added incentive of selection for the England Counties XV has made over 100 players from the national divisions available for their counties."

All players involved in the Championship and Shield will be eligible for places on the first England Counties XV tour to Chile from June 18 to June 30.

Durham have already put forward the names of their 20-year-old captain Rob Stewart and his Darlington teammate, prop Dan Miller, for the tour.

Rob Udwin, the England Counties XV manager, said: "We will be watching all the first round games in the Championship and I'm sure the job of selecting the players for the tour will be a very difficult one, such is the high standard we expect to see during the Championship."

The names of the squad will be released during the week of May 20.

* Skipper Pat Lam returns to the Newcastle Falcons team at home to Saracens tomorrow, determined to bow out on a high note.

Lam has three Zurich Premiership games, plus the play-offs, before his retirement and he will be appearing in his best position at blind side.

That's where he made such an impact for the Falcons in their title-winning season four years ago before leaving for Northampton, and since then he has played mainly at No 8.

After recovering from injury, Lam takes over the No 6 shirt from Epi Taione, who will miss the rest of the season after breaking a thumb in last Sunday's win against Bath.

The Falcons are also at home to London Irish on Wednesday (7.30) before finishing their programme at Northampton next Sunday.

While Saracens are not yet out of relegation danger, sixth-placed Newcastle are already guaranteed the top eight finish which qualifies them for the play-offs.

But they are still hoping to earn a home draw by sneaking into fourth place, and there is also the incentive of qualifying for next season's Heineken European Cup.

Full back David Walder looks likely to return on Wednesday after recovering from his worrying hamstring problem.

He has been selected by England manager Clive Woodward for the game against the Barbarians on May 26 and is hoping to earn a place on the summer tour to Argentina.

French fly half Thomas Castaignede could make his first start for 18 months for Saracens tomorrow after finally recovering froan Achilles injury.

* The 28th Darlington Junior Festival takes place at Blackwell Meadows this weekend and features a third day for the first time.

An under 18 event will be reinstated on Monday, featuring seven teams including the host club, Middlesbrough, Billingham and Hull Ionians.

There will be 27 teams in action today in the 13-16 age groups, while 40 teams from nines to 12s will have their chance tomorrow. Play begins at 12.30 each day.

* Darlington won the Humphrys Cup for under 18s when they beat Gateshead 11-7 in the final at Houghton.