Italian international winger Giamba Venditti returns to the Falcons starting 15 for Sunday’s Aviva Premiership clash against Harlequins at Kingston Park as the senior side go in search of a fourth consecutive home victory.
The Falcons have made just two changes from the team that began their last league game against London Irish, with the 33 times capped winger coming in for Marcus Watson on the left wing, in what will be his fifth start since joining the club.
The rest of the backline remains unchanged and features the same line up that took a bonus point victory against Brive Correze.
Simon Hammersley, the scorer of the scintillating match winning try last Saturday, remains at fullback, the right wing benefits from Alex Tait’s wealth of experience gained from 108 premiership matches while the balanced pairing of Juan Pablo Socino and Chris Harris continue in the centres.
Conducting play from the half backs, the experienced head of Michael Young again lines up alongside the developing Craig Willis for the third consecutive home game.
Up front, there are similarly limited changes to the club’s last premiership outing with the fully fit Taione Vea switching his place on the January 10th bench with Paddy Ryan.
Alongside the Tongan international tighthead, the wisdom and gnarl of 242 Aviva Premiership appearances pack down, with Scottish international Scott Lawson at hooker and club stalwart Rob Vickers at loose head prop.
After showing huge promise since its debut against Leicester Tigers on Boxing Day, the second row partnership again sees the ever dependable Mark Wilson line up alongside the clubs current top line out performer Sean Robinson.
Along the back row, Will Welch will again captain the side from the blindside flank, Nili Latu will again be a key factor on the openside flank while Ally Hogg will steer the pack from the base at number eight.
On the replacement bench, the experienced theme continues. Alongside the aforementioned Ryan, American international Eric Fry provides further options at prop, while George McGuigan stands ready to cover the hooker position.
Mouritz Botha and Richard Mayhew will cover the second and back rows, while the ever exciting Tongan scrum half Tane Takulua covers that position in the number 21 shirt.
Andy Goode and Adam Powell complete the line-up of a side, that will look to harness the support of another big Kingston Park crowd on Sunday.
Newcastle Falcons squad V Harlequins 31/1/2016
15 Simon Hammersley 14 Alex Tait 13 Chris Harris 12 Juan Pablo Socino 11 Giamba Venditti 10 Craig Willis 9 Michael Young 1 Rob Vickers 2 Scott Lawson 3 Taione Vea 4 Mark Wilson 5 Sean Robinson 6 Will Welch 7 Nili Latu 8 Ally Hogg
16 George McGuigan 17 Eric Fry 18 Paddy Ryan 19 Mouritz Botha 20 Richard Mayhew 21 Sonatane Takulua 22 Andy Goode 23 Adam Powell