Scotland centre John Leslie may quit Newcastle after being left out of the side to face Saracens at Kingston Park tomorrow.

Leslie returned to the club this week following Scotland's three-match international programme to find he had not even been handed a place on the bench for the game against the league leaders.

The New Zealand-born star had a lengthy meeting with director of rugby Rob Andrew and is now considering his future.

''John is unhappy about not being in the team,'' said Andrew. ''There has been no fall-out between us, it is just a case of him wanting to be in the side.

''I am not prepared to guarantee a first team place to anyone, no matter who they are. I never have and I never will."

Leslie would certainly be welcome at either of the Scottish Super Districts should his services become available. His brother Martin is a flanker with Edinburgh Reivers.

Based on the form he showed when first selected for Scotland two years ago, Leslie was expected to make a big impact when he signed for Newcastle midway through last season.

He was initially unable to play because of injury, and when he finally did appear he seemed less than fully fit.

Youngsters Tom May and Jamie Noon have formed an exciting partnership during his recent absenceand Andrew is reluctant to break them up.

Leslie's international colleagues Stuart Grimes and George Graham are both on the bench, with another Scot, Ross Beattie, returning at No 8 alongside Richard Arnold.

Newcastle are appealing against Arnold's dismissal in last week's defeat at Northampton, when he was on the field for only 15 minutes after coming off the bench at half-time.

Arnold, who has already served one suspension this season, is in the starting line-up against Saracens, who are heavily depleted.

They will fly up prop David Flatman and Kyran Bracken, who are both on the England bench against Argentina. Flatman will start against Newcastle, but scrum-half Bracken will be a replacement.

The visitors are without four England players plus the two top-quality overseas stars they hoped would catapult them to the title this season.

Thomas Castaignede is out for the season after rupturing an Achilles tendon and Australian centre Tim Horan damaged a hamstring in last week's 16-15 defeat at Gloucester.

Horan, who made his debut only three weeks ago after an ankle injury, will now be out for a month.

With their Scots back from international duty, and hooker Ross Nesdale from injury, Newcastle have selected from a virtually full-strength squad.

Dave Walder continues to deputise for Jonny Wilkinson and Inga Tuigamala makes his first start for two months in place of Epi Taione, who has shown he has the power to be a long-term successor to the Samoan star.

Six years of non-stop rugby appear to have taken their toll of Tuigamala, but Newcastle have been trying to rehabilitate him over the last two months and hope they will now see the rewards.

West Hartlepool's player-coach John Stabler hopes to field an unchanged team at home to Bracknell today (2pm) following last week's encouraging display against Rosslyn Park.

Stabler, who is nearing his 100th league appearance for West, hopes to avenge last season's 28-17 Tetley's Bitter Cup defeat at home to the team coached by former England prop Paul Rendall.

It was the second time in recent seasons that Bracknell have visited West in the cup. On the first occasion they were three divisions apart, but now the gap is threatening to become two divisions in Bracknell's favour.

Jonathan Golightly, one of those who has tried to take over Stabler's fly half role at West, has signed for Darlington Mowden Park.

Golightly started last season as West's No 10, but was shifted to full back when James Lofthouse arrived and wasn't happy with the role.

"He has looked very good in training," said team manager Jim Dyson. "He wants to start afresh and feels this is the place to do it. He will probably play in our Durham Cup tie at Consett next week."

Both Golightly and the other new signing, winger Steve Jones, are in Mowden's second team today, along with ex-Wakefield scrum half Mark Foster, who has been on Army duties in Sierra Leone.

The arrival of Jones could help to keep club captain Mick Kent out of the team.

He arrived back yesterday from the British Police Rugby League tour to South Africa and has been named on the bench for the visit of Sheffield.

Scrum half Phil Harvey returns, along with lock Steve Sanderson, with Jason Malcolm dropping to the bench.

Darlington have three home games in eight days, starting with the visit of Bridlington, who are in mid-table in North Two East.

Then comes a fixture against the RAF on Wednesday (7pm), followed by next week's Durham Cup tie against Gateshead.

Former Sandal winger James Diamond makes his first league start and Nick Gregory is again at fly half.

In the pack Mark Turnbull replaces Neil Burnside at lock, Del Lewis returns at No 8 and Phil Lancaster will start at loose head with Dan Miller at tight head.

Darlington know that if they are to have any chance of overhauling leaders Halifax they need to improve their points difference