BLAYDON will hand a debut to former Darlington Mowden Park back Adam McKenzie in tomorrow’s National One match at home to Blackheath.

McKenzie, who played for Scotland Under 20s last season, switched clubs in the summer but was injured in pre-season and has only recently returned to full fitness.

He played mostly at centre for Mowden but will be on the wing for his Blaydon bow in place of the injured Kevin Mc- Shane.

With No 8 Jason Smithson out for another week, Gavin Jones will start after making an impact off the bench in last week’s win at Tynedale.

He replaces Mark Wilson, who is to make his Newcastle Falcons debut at open side in their cup tie at Worcester.

The 6ft 4in Jones was born in South Africa but has played for Wharfedale and represented Yorkshire at Under 20 level.

After winning four of their last five games Westoe have climbed from third bottom into the top half in National Two North and should win again at home to Bradford and Bingley.

The Yorkshiremen have only one win and a draw from nine games, but Westoe skipper Gareth Nesbit warned: “They will be fighting hard to escape from the bottom reaches of the table, just as we were.

And results in this league so far have shown that everybody is capable of beating everybody else.”

Chris Judson, whose nose was broken against Loughborough Students seven weeks ago, returned at scrum half last week for the unavailable Peter Phelan, and lock Paul Bird also resumed after a month’s absence.

Nesbit said: “They both put in their best performance of the season. Players now know that such is the competition for places they have to take their opportunities when they arise.”

Winger Chris Clark is playing in the Singapore Sevens and will be replaced by Mark Olugbode.

Stockton are hoping that their improved form holds out for the visit of Horden. Despite losing some players to Hartlepool Rovers, Horden have lost only two games this season and have moved into second place in Durham and Northumberland One, courtesy of Team Northumbria having points deducted.

Stockton hope fly half Jeremy Good will have recovered from his second hamstring injury of the season, allowing coach Craig Lee a breather.

Winger Ritchie Brown rejoins the squad after injury.