He'll benefit from being alongside Brett Cullinane who returns at hooker to allow Tim Sawyer to take up the No 8 shirt alongside Jonny Boatman and Henry Tones.

Darren Thomas will be at inside centre, after recovering from his ankle injury, and that will be the only change in the backs.

But its the pack where we need to improve. The lads held a team meeting last night in an effort to find out where last season's form had gone, and those who strat the game will know that there will be players on the bench itching to get on. Stuart Bennett will be one of them and so will Anth Carr. John Painter may also figure. He thoroughly enjoyed his return at Stockton and was full of priase for the young and athletic second row pairing of Phil Henderson and Carl Miller.

Westoe have strengthend in the summer after new Chairman Jella Shabilla put some money into the club and attracted ex-Falcons back row Richard Arnold to coach the club. Arnold will be at Number 8 tomorrow after missing the last few games wth the flu.

Shabilla himself will be on the bench. Don't tell Stu Murray.

West: Martin Todd, Dan Abrahams, Peter Hodgson, Darren Thomas, Andrew Hare, Phil Wallis, Davy Tighe, Mark Cholmondeley, Brett Cullinane, Ryan Phillips, Phil Henderson, Carl Miller, Jon Boatman, Henry Tones, Tim Sawyer.

Reps from: John Painter, Anth Carr, Stuart Bennett, Phil Gilbraith, Will Richardson.

Westoe: Craig Stephenson, Paul Hagan, Kevin Wilson, Graham Haswell, Mark Olugbode, Dave Haswell, Chris Jackson, Gareth Nesbit [capt], Nigel Douglas,Raymie Elliott, Michael Holland, Paul Bird, Glen Walton, Dave Bowyer, Richard Arnold.

Reps: Jella Shabilla, Graeme Smith, Jimmy Thompson.