BLAYDON have former Newcastle Falcons player Steve O'Neill back for the North One top-of-the-table crunch at home to Darlington Mowden Park tomorrow, writes TIM WELLOCK.

After a three-week absence with a shoulder injury, the powerful flanker joins Soa Otuvaka and Tim Russell in what promises to be a bruising back row battle.

If there is more rain the match could be in doubt as the whole area between the clubhouse and the first team pitch was under water in midweek.

That would cause a real problem for Mowden, who already have three league matches to re-schedule. But Blaydon also want to play at all costs.

They will have to rearrange their Durham Cup first round tie at home to Hartlepool Rovers on December 2 because both are involved in the Intermediate Cup.

Blaydon visit Manchester club Aldwinians, who are in North Two West, while Rovers are at home to unbeaten Yorkshire One leaders Cleckheaton.

Stockton are confident that their North One match at home to Sheffield will go ahead, but any further rain will put Middlesbrough's Acklam Park out of action for the second successive week.

Boro are due to entertain Hull Ionians, who finished second last season but have won only three of their seven games to date and are alongside Boro on six points.

John Dixon would have had to play a full game last week, but with Dave Hinchley fit again the coach can take his usual place on the bench.

Boro also expect to have Peter Davidson and Ben Horton back in the front row, but flanker Gavin Pattinson is unavailable so Gavin Fingland deputises. Steve Graham is preferred to centre Andy Micklewright.

Chris Hyndman, the 19-year-old centre who left Boro for Northampton in the summer, is expected to make his senior debut tomorrow in the Tetley's Bitter Cup match at home to Birmingham and Solihull.

Sheffield are one of the five teams on six points, which puts them four ahead of hosts Stockton, who will be desperate to win. Pleased with an improved performance in the defeat by Blaydon two weeks ago, Stockton make only one change with Pedro Salahshouri returning on the wing after a knee injury.

He replaces Shaun Richardson, who made an impressive debut but is involved with the Newcastle Falcons development squad this weekend.

Darlington were unable to train on Monday because of the flooding and have delayed selection of their team to entertain Old Crossleyans.

lHartlepool have been drawn at home to Halifax Vandals in the fourth round of the Tetley's Bitter Vase on December 2. Gosforth will visit Malton and Norton and North Shields are away to Stocksbridge