MIDDLESBROUGH'S plight shows little sign of easing with player-coach Jon Wrigley forced to play out of position in tomorrow's North Division One match at Driffield.

He will be at fly half with Rob Green taking over at scrum half as Boro seek to improve on their record of one win in seven games.

Talented teenager Steve Jones, who has played at No 10 in the last few games, is out for four to six weeks with knee ligament damage.

"All our fly halves seem to have disappeared at once," said Wrigley.

"Andrew Baggett is holding down his place in Wharfedale's first team and Ashley Parker isn't keen to play since having the plate out of his leg.

"We'll have to battle on and having Ben Pattinson and Steve Wallis back in the back row should be a big help. They were a bit rusty last week, but we should see an improvement after two good training sessions.

"Ben hadn't been playing because of a thumb injury, but unless Wakefield call him back he should be regularly available for us. We don't have a big set of forwards and he definitely helps in taking the ball up."

The other player-coach, John Dixon, will start on the bench this week with Mark Stevenson coming in for his first senior start of the season. Phil Adamson replaces unavailable prop Nick Prest.

Also in North One, Darlington go to Chester, who have the identical record of four wins from seven games.

There is a derby match in North Two East as Stockton entertain Redcar, who have lost only one of their seven games and drew with leaders Cleckheaton last week.

Stockton are still without skipper Alan Brown, but former Redcar player Andy Cowell returns at No 8 and Joe Green will be at open side after playing on the wing last week.

Graham Kell comes in at centre and Pedro Salahshouri on the wing, with Lee Richardson switching to full back to allow Phil Shaw to play at fly half.

In National Three North, Darlington Mowden Park go to Shropshire club Whitchurch, who conceded seven tries to one player last week when Doncaster centre Matt Donkin equalled a National League record.

Blaydon have the task of stopping Donkin this week as they host second-placed Doncaster, who have former Bristol flanker Derek Eves as their Director of Rugby.

After two outings from the bench since his return to Blaydon from Tynedale, former England Under 21 prop Paul Winter will have his first start if Derek Dixon is ruled out by an ankle injury.

Lock James Houghton has two broken fingers, so Dave Falconer comes in.

Flanker Andy Wright is likely to be rested, giving a chance to John O'Malley.

Andy Foreman, who came off the bench for 20 minutes in each of the previous two games before touching down four times against West Hartlepool, has now scored six tries in his last 120 minutes of rugby. He will continue to partner James Lofthouse at half back.

West will hope for better things at Scunthorpe, but with a trip to Doncaster next week things are not going to get any easier