THE threat of relegation hanging over Darlington Mowden Park has been removed following the RFU's confirmation that only two clubs will go down from National Three North.

Traditionally it has been three, but that has been reduced by the knock-on effect of increasing Division One from 14 to 16 clubs.

When it seemed all the national leagues would be expanded it was widely believed there would be no relegation, but then the RFU Council blocked the increase.

With Division One clubs threatening to go it alone, their expansion has been given the go-ahead while the lower leagues will stay the same. There was talk of splitting Division Three into four conferences, but the clubs voted heavily against it.

The upshot is that Kendal and New Brighton are already relegated from Three North, and with only one club coming down from above it looks likely to be Orrell, although Harrogate are not quite out of the woods.

The fact that Mowden are no longer fighting for survival might be to the detriment of Blaydon, who need the Yiewsley Drive club to do them a favour at home to Nuneaton today.

The Midlanders are only two points behind second-placed Blaydon with two games in hand and have lost only once on their travels this season.

Mowden have Eni Gisende back at blind side, switching Junior Fagalilo back to hooker with Mark Darlington dropping to the bench.

Blaydon will be seeking revenge at home to Hull Ionians as they suffered a damaging 28-16 defeat on Humberside, where they fell foul of some strange refereeing decisions after dominating the game.

Ionians were on a good run at the time, but have lost four of their last five games and Blaydon should win comfortably as their only absentee is scrum half James Kyle.

The other scrum half, Nick Williams, returns in place of Nick Gandy and Simon Barber is back on the wing after injury.

After their three-week lay-off Darlington visit Cleckheaton, who lost 33-3 at Blackwell Meadows but have won four of their last five games.

Skipper Paul Lee has recovered from food poisoning and will be at fly half for Darlington, and Rob Stewart has shaken off his arm injury.

The possibility that three could go down from North One means Middlesbrough need to climb two places with four games left.

They are at home today to Longton, who moved a point above them last week, then face the rearranged home game against second-placed West Park St Helens next week. After that they have Huddersfield away and Caldy at home.

Boro have a game in hand on Caldy, who are three points above them, while Chester are one point further ahead but have six games left and will not finish their programme until May 13.

Winger Andy Micklewright returns after injury to a full-strength Boro back division, but prop Craig Chapman is unavailable so ex-Acklam player Steve Duffy comes in.

Some players in North Two East face a busy weekend as they are required for first team duty before trying to help Durham qualify for the quarter-finals of the Under 20 Championship tomorrow, when Northumberland visit Sunderland.

Among them are the West Hartlepool pair Chris Lambert and Dan Boatman, whose brother Jonny is out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

Tim Sawyer switches to No 8 for the trip to Driffield, with Jonathan Norris coming in at hooker, while Henry Tones and Phil Henderson deputise for broken thumb victim Andrew Davies and Aaron Myers, who is training with England Under 18s.

Also doubling up this weekend are Durham City's Dan Kyle and Chris Wearmoth, who will be hoping for an easy ride at home to Stockton.

Prop Mark Davison returns, with Mark Cammiss switching to tight head.

Stockton bring in Andy Bare at full back and have Owain Jenkins at scrum half. With Gary Skirving ruled out, Dan Muirhead will be at prop with Dave Moulder hooking.

Newcastle Falcons scrum half James Grindal expects a tough battle with former All Black Mark Robinson when Northampton visit Kingston Park tomorrow for a mid-table battle in the Guinness Premiership.

"He is probably the strongest ball-carrying scrum half in the Premiership," said Grindal, who has remained the Falcons' first-choice No 9 since Hall Charlton recovered from injury.

"Our back row will have to be on their guard, but our defence has improved considerably since last season and is one of our real successes.

"Everyone is focused on a good run-in, starting against a Northampton side which is playing some good stuff. They are in a similar position to us after a poor start. Their backs are their strength and they have started to score some tries."

The Falcons have told skipper Colin Charvis and England centre Jamie Noon to rest after the Six Nations Championship as they look ahead to next Friday's European Challenge Cup quarter-final at home to Connacht.