IT'S a big day for Darlington rugby with both the town's clubs appearing in the preliminary round of the Tetley's Bitter Cup.

Mowden Park hit the national headlines last season by reaching the last 16 before losing at Harlequins and the draw has given them every chance of reaching at least the third round this time.

With home advantage every time, victory against Workington today will be followed by a clash with Alnwick or Broughton Park, then Selby, Chester, West Park or Penrith in the second round.

The only club they need fear is Chester, the only team to beat them in North Two last season and as they entertain Chester in North One on October 14 they could face them in successive weeks.

"It would be wonderful to have another cup run, but our priority is the league," said Director of Rugby John Parkinson.

"We don't know a lot about Workington except that they have done well for the last two years and have a number of Rugby League players."

Champions of North West Two last season, Workington now play in the North Lancs and Cumbria League, still two levels below Mowden.

With players like Chris Mattison and Scott Thompson now available, Mowden are spoilt for choice and both have to settle for a place on the bench, along with lock Jason Malcolm, who makes way for Ian James.

Tony Irwin has a leg infection and is replaced in the back row by Del Russell, while 18-year-old open side flanker Ben Kerr is on the bench.

Richard Outhwaite comes in for unavailable centre John Stewart.

On their first appearance in the senior national cup, Darlington visit Stockport, who are on the same level in North Two (West).

The winners will be at home to Aspatria in two weeks, and if Darlington were sucessful in both games they would entertain National Division Two club Wharfedale in the second round.

Brian Baldwin replaces unavailable hooker Rob Goddard and prop Dan Miller joins the squad after recovering from injury.

West Hartlepool, who come into the cup at the second round stage with a home tie, visit Wharfedale today with skipper Brett Cullinane switching from prop to hooker as Tim Sawyer has gone travelling. Mark Cholmondley takes over at prop.

Newcastle University student David Haswell comes in at fly half with Tom Winney switching to full back as Mark Thompson is unavalable.

Coach John Stabler said: "I'm hoping to make a new signing next week, but I've still got a few who have already joined to look at, and the only way to judge them is in matches."

The Intermediate Cup also kicks off today with Stockton and Middlesbrough both having byes. Boro will have a training session with player-coach Jon Wrigley hoping to be fit for next week's league match at Chester after pulling out last week because of a dead leg.

Stockton have arranged a friendly at home to Westoe and bring in prop Simon Brown, centre Graham Kell and flanker Brett Wildridge with Dave Cooke switching to the wing.

Newcastle could be without the services of full-back Michael Stephenson and number eight Jim Jenner, who both picked up shoulder injuries during Falcons' midweek defeat against Gloucester against Rotherham tomorrow.

Ross Cook would be Stephenson's likely deputy, with Scottish international Ross Beattie replacing Jenner.

Rotherham add centre Jon Shepherd and prop Stuart Turner to their squad for the trip north, both players having recovered from injuries, but the Premiership's bottom club could be unchanged following a battling display at Leicester on Wednesday night.

l Australian star Jason Little's Gloucester debut could be delayed until mid-October because the World Cup-winning Wallaby requires knee surgery.

Little was due to arrive from Australia next Monday, flying in with his brother-in-law, Harlequins-bound David Wilson.

But those travel plans have now been put back a fortnight so he can undergo an operation to remove floating debris from his knee.

Gloucester's coaching staff then expect a further three weeks of recovery before Little can resume playing.

His eagerly-awaited Premiership debut had been pencilled in for Sunday week when Gloucester visit Wasps, but the Heineken Cup appointments with Roma at Kingsholm on October 14, or Colomiers a week later, now look the likely alternatives.

It means that Little faces missing league games against Wasps, Quins and Bristol, plus the October 6 European opener at Llanelli.

''We have been in touch with the medical people in Australia, who tell us that Jason needs an operation to remove some debris, and we have to go with that opinion,'' said Gloucester forwards coach John Brain.

''Although a little disappointing, the situation is not too serious and the bottom line is that we want someone of Jason's ability 100 per cent fit.

''We need to make sure that he is fully fit, and to rush him back would be a mistake.''

While Little remains Down Under, Gloucester hope to make it three league wins in a week when fierce West Country rivals Bath arrive at Kingsholm today.

But Brain believes Bath will hold a distinct advantage, having seen their scheduled midweek fixture against London Irish rearranged for later in the season.

''We've had a very tiring week with trips to Rotherham and Newcastle, and our boys are bound to feel the effect of that,'' he added