Darlington are anxious to play Macclesfield at home come hell or high water today.

With three matches to rearrange in North Division One, they have already pencilled in two of them for dates set aside for the county cup semi-finals and final.

The trip to Bradford and Bingley, whose pitch was waterlogged last week, is now scheduled for March 23, with the home match against Aspatria, snowed off in December, taking place the following week.

That leaves the trip to Wigton, which the league secretary is suggesting should be on Durham Cup final day, April 20.

While Darlington are going along with the county's directive to play their first round cup tie at Stockton on February 16, others are not.

Blaydon v Darlington Mowden Park is on March 23 and West Hartlepool have asked if their tie at Consett can be played in midweek under lights at Durham City, Blaydon or Winlaton. West are playing their rearranged league match at Mowden on February 16.

There could be an added complication for Darlington if Sheffield win their National Intermediate Cup quarter-final as the semi-final would be on the day of their visit from Darlington, March 9.

The first priority is to defy the wet weather and play Macclesfield, who went one point ahead of Darlington into third place when they drew at home to Middlesbrough last week.

Martin Howe is working, so another former Stockton man, Ian Todd, comes in at open side with John Whitehouse providing cover on the bench.

Scrum half Rob Stewart, who would not have been fit to play last week, has recovered from his thigh strain.

The trip to Macclesfield in October was one of three away games which Darlington lost narrowly in the first half of the season, in this case by three points.

Also in North One, Middlesbrough entertain Aspatria, who overpowered them up front on their visit to Cumbria.

Lock Dave Hinchley has had a shoulder operation and will not play again this season, so Ian Robinson returns to partner John Dixon, with Mark O'Halloran on the bench.

Chris Horton and Phil Adamson are likely to start at prop, with Paul Gaynon also in contention.

Mowden Park skipper Mick Kent is working, so Chris Strong comes in at centre for the National Division Three North match at Bedford Athletic.

Following Jonny Golightly's move to Blaydon, Mowden's resources in the backs are looking a little stretched, especially with Mark Wilkinson out with a fractured cheekbone.

They were hoping to have Matt Howland back, but after a spell in New Zealand he has now moved on to Australia and his return is not imminent.

James Isaacson and Dave Sinclair will start at prop, with Danny Brown on the bench, and Steve Sanderson returns at lock as Ian James has suffered a recurrence of his shoulder problem and could need an operation.

Durham University full back Stuart Keelan is on the bench, while back row cover is provided by Ben Kerr, who played for Teesside Steelers last summer and has been named in the Wales Under 21 Rugby League squad.

West Hartlepool are likely to be brought back to earth after their win against Whitchurch as they visit second-placed Dudley Kingswinford. Prop Mark Cholmondley is unfit, so Brett Cullinane switches from hooker to prop and Carl Robinson comes in.

Blaydon go to Whitchurch with Golightly in their squad. Iain Dixon, first-choice goal-kicker in the absence of James Lofthouse, switches to centre with Paul Alexander returning on the wing.

Tynedale hope to have clearance to include James Ponton in their back row at Liverpool St Helens following his return to the club on loan from Leeds