AFTER their visit to the well-heeled Ealing Trailfinders last week, Blaydon are becoming increasingly conscious of the North-South divide. And they might be reminded of it again when Jersey jet into Tyneside today.

The visitors have a fly half named Mike Le Bourgeois, who became their first home-produced player to sign a professional contract after they secured their third promotion in four years by beating Loughborough Students 30-5 in last season's play-off.

It's not quite a battle of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie as Blaydon are no paupers and will hope to beat their visitors as much through skill and pace as muscle.

Winger Kevin McShane, the Newcastle Falcons fitness coach, makes his first appearance of the season and with Frazer Wilson on the other flank there is plenty of threat out wide.

Andrew Baggett needs another week off after his wrist operation, and with Tom Catterick out for seven weeks with a leg injury Elliot O'Brien continues at fly half.

Props Micky Ward and Robbie Kalbraier are fit. Both had to retire at Ealing, forcing the match to be completed with uncontested scrums, and ideally Ward would have a week off because of a long-standing shoulder problem. But he is short of experienced cover and is desperate to halt a run of three defeats.

Although Ward's fellow former Falcon, Hall Charlton, trained this week he has yet to take the field for Blaydon and Lewis Crosbie continues at scrum half.

Jersey are eighth, two places above Blaydon, despite having five points deducted for playing three overseas players in one game.

Birmingham and Solihull, who visit Tynedale, have also lost five points for including five England Academy Players, one more than permitted.

The Midlanders are next to the bottom so Tynedale will hope to halt their run of three home defeats, despite having 12 players injured.

Myles Scott, who has played in the second row and as a flanker, could be out for the season with a damaged anterior cruciate knee ligament, while winger Peter Cole will be missing for a month with a hamstring injury.

It is hoped that skipper Jack Harrison will be able to return at centre following his ankle injury.

Westoe visit Huddersfield in National Two North and are able to include star No 8 Ollie Stedman after his red card against Stockport was deemed sufficient punishment by the RFU panel.

Darlington Mowden Park will pair the Connon brothers, Max and Grant, at half back for the visit of Beverley, who are next to the bottom of National Three North.

Max has so far appeared at full back, but it has been decided to rest regular No 9 Todd Harrison. He will be on the bench with Dan Miller, who steps down to allow Ralph Appleby and Danny Dixon to start at prop, with Andrew Tonkin hooking.

Skipper Junior Fagalilo switches to blind side as Graeme Seddon is unavailable through studies and Luke Wishnowsky returns in place of Liam Riley, who is playing for Durham Under 18s against Yorkshire tomorrow. Chris Peace returns at centre, so Chris McTurk reverts to the wing.

West Hartlepool visit Birkenhead Park, who were surprisingly thrashed by Waterloo last week. Prop Anth Carr and centre Luke Watson are unavailable so Ross Wood, who finished last week's game, gets a start and Greg Edwards moves inside to centre with Scott Butcher returning on the wing.

Tom Dixon has not recovered from a hamstring strain, so West continue to select Andrew Davies at lock, despite his sending-off last week.

The top two play the bottom two in North One East, with Billingham and Middlesbrough both unchanged on their visits to Gateshead and Team Northumbria.

After his promising debut last week, Boro hope that young prop Ben d'Cuna will relish the chance to play against opponents of a similar age.

Durham and Northumberland One leaders Darlington visit Medicals, while Stockton host bottom club Novos. Last season Stockton lost the away game 36-13 when their injury crisis was at its peak at the end of October, but won 58-0 at home in February.

Skipper Mark Skirving broke a hand last week and will be out for a month, so James Herring and Anthony Parkinson are vying for the vacant flanker's slot. Fellow back row man Wayne Brown is carrying an arm injury so Phil Austen deputises.

Hartlepool Rovers are at home to Ponteland and after three successive wins without securing the four-try bonus point they will be hoping for a try spree.