MIDDLESBROUGH need to avenge their early season defeat at Billingham today if they are to retain any hope of toppling their neighbours from the automatic promotion spot in North One East.

In terms of the table, the Teesside derby is less important to Billingham as they are eight points clear of Wheatley Hills, with Boro a point further adrift.

But Chris Hyndman's men will bring plenty of vocal support and will be fully fired-up as they attempt to repeat the 33-13 home win they enjoyed in the second match.

With the league programme at the halfway stage, Billingham's superiority is underlined by the fact that in 13 games they have accrued a points difference of 304, compared with Boro's 160.

But with their fleet-footed backs Billingham are a top-of-the-ground side and the conditions should help Boro today.

Their forwards should be buoyed by last week's 28-5 win at Wheatley Hills and they know that the relevance of that victory will be reduced if they fail to follow it up.

Boro have named an unchanged side so it will be another big test for Ashley Kearney and Phil Harland in the front row.

In Blaydon's National One match at Cambridge, former Newcastle front row colleagues Micky Ward and Andy Long will pit their wits against each other.

While still registered as a player with Northampton Saints, Long is carrying out coaching duties at Cambridge.

After going close at Rosslyn Park last week, Blaydon are unchanged and Ward is hopeful of extending Cambridge's lean run. They lost at home to Wharfedale the week after Blaydon beat the Grassington club.

Fly-half Andrew Baggett survived a fitness test on his knee on Thursday night but winger Kevin McShane has not recovered from a hamstring strain so Tom Jeffery gets another chance.

Young flankers Ben Morris and David Watchorn are both injured, so Gavin Jones continues at blind side.

Tynedale hope to have Joel Hodgson available at home to Sedgeley Park and winger Hamish Smales will also return after Dubai Sevens duty.

There is a doubt about lock Richard Boyle, who was injured after scoring two tries in the Newcastle Falcons Development XV's 34-31 win against Worcester at Darlington on Monday.

A crowd of more than 400 saw the Falcons build a 29-5 lead, but the visitors used their more experienced bench to set up an exciting finish.

Westoe begin the second half of their National Two North programme looking for a double against Sheffield Tigers after beating them 24-13 away from home.

With four players back from the Dubai Sevens, Westoe switch Simon O'Farrell to full back to allow Mark Bedworth to return at fly half as they seek a fourth successive win.

Chris Judson is back at scrum half, but Ben Frankland and Gareth Kerr have to settle for the bench.

National Three North leaders Darlington Mowden Park entertain Sandal and will be hoping for an easier ride than they were granted by West Hartlepool last week.

Centre Chris Peace faces a fitness test with highly-rated army man Will Gough standing by. After signing towards the end of last season he played a few games at fly half and is now available again.

Ralph Appleby starts at prop, with Danny Dixon dropping to the bench, and 18-year-old Pierce Phillips joins Andy Wilson in the second row. Tom Schofield switches to No 8 following James Merton's injury last week.

West Hartlepool's match at Rossendale is in doubt because of waterlogging. Stu Waites has been selected at fly half, with Colin Cheslin coming in at full back.

Darlington's pitch was under water on Thursday night and the match against Guisborough is subject to an 11am inspection.

Lock Chris Oakley returns and a newly-signed Fijian back row man, Phil Niubalavu, will be on the bench.

Stockton host Ryton in a match which will also count as the semi final of the Durham Intermediate Cup.

Stockton won the away match 37-26 in mid-September and Ryton currently lie 11th in the table.

Stockton name an unchanged pack for the third successive week. In the backs, centre Craig Slaughter is available so Jeremy Good returns to fly half and winger Shaun McLaren forces his way into the starting line-up after good performances from the bench.