Darlington are hoping to get through their next three games, two of them derbies, without any front row injuries as Dan Miller is to have a knee operation next Thursday.

He should be fit to return after the two-week festive-season break, but the last thing Darlington need is for Paul Shepherd or Joe Oselton to be injured in the meantime.

Paul Scott, who impressed at the end of last season, is currently not playing because of work and attempts to sign reinforcements have drawn a blank.

Darlington entertain Cleckheaton today before visiting Blaydon next week, followed by the home game against Darlington Mowden Park.

Skipper Paul Lee returns at fly half after a four-week absence with a groin injury, his brother Craig reverting to centre to partner Ben Snook, who will resume goal-kicking duties.

Richard Lightwing, who has played at centre in the last two matches, has a shoulder injury, while Phil Dawson is in the Newcastle Development squad for today's game against Stellenbosch University at Kingston Park.

Hopes that Apenai Kororua might be available have not materialised as he is away on army exercise.

Mowden have six of last week's starting line-up unavailable for the trip to Nuneaton but are still able to field a strong side. The only replacement who does not have a lot of first-team experience is flanker Andrew Tonkin, who impressed when coming off the bench in the first match of the season and kept his place until Ricky Bagier arrived.

With Bagier at the Dubai Sevens, Tonkin takes over at open side, with Matt Wright at No 6, while Ian Keeligan, Ian Robinson and Naude Pretorius return in the front five.

It will be Robinson's first game since suffering an ankle injury against Blaydon in October, while centre Matt Howland also returns after injury in place of Iain Dixon.

Shaun Richardson, who missed last week's game through flu, returns at scrum half but there is a slight doubt about No 8 Matt Holmes, whose wife is due to give birth.

If he can't play Fosita Tanginoa will switch from wing into the pack, with Teesside student Remi Mobed coming into the backs.

Martin Shaw is also in Dubai, so Director of Rugby Nick Gandy comes in at centre in Blaydon's only change for the trip to Hull Ionians.

It would have been an opportunity to play Sengi Tuihalamaka, the powerful Tongan signed from New Brighton six weeks ago. But he recently joined Bradford and Bingley, while Matt Dehaty is out for the season with a broken leg and former Newcastle Academy winger Joe Pattison is also unlikely to play this season because of cruciate ligament damage.

Blaydon will be spoilt for choice in the front row in two weeks, when Paul Winter's suspension ends. His replacement, Justin Clarke, has impressed and is determined to keep his place.

Middlesbrough have suffered their second successive postponement, with all their games being called off with the RFU's blessing so players can attend the funeral of former clubmate Mark Foster. Also a talented cricketer, he has died suddenly at the age of 27.

Boro now have trips to Longton and Caldy to fit in, with January 14 and February 4 the next available dates.

There's a top-of-the-table battle in North Two East when Durham City visit Penrith without skipper Jeff Roberts, who is in Dubai, and fly half Dan Kyle, who is playing for the county under-18s.

Nick Howe switches to fly half with Lithuanian international Tomas Bieliauskas coming in at centre, while Oxford Blue Will Rubie returns on the wing for Richard Stanley.

Howard Johnson moves across to take Roberts' place at open side, with Grant Thompson coming in at No 6. Graham Herbert returns at tight head.

Stockton keep Owain Jenkins at full back and Danny Muirhead at prop in an unchanged side for the visit of Alnwick, who have ex-Tynedale player Alan Moses returning at fly half.

West Hartlepool's only change for the visit of Sheffield sees Carl Robinson return at tight head in place of Mark Cholmondeley.