Newcastle Falcons Head Coach Alan Tait has made two changes for Friday's crucial Aviva Premiership match against Exeter at Kingston Park.
Kiwi full-back Jeremy Manning makes the bench following an arm injury sustained at London Irish last week, with Scotland international Euan Murray making a welcome return to the front row.
Lancastrian second rower Glen Townson and centre James Fitzpatrick are named on the bench.
On Manning's inclusion amongst the replacements, Tait said: "Jeremy's responding well to treatment and on the advice of the medical staff we are giving him as long as possible to recover."
Meanwhile, Exeter Chiefs have been challenged by Head Coach Rob Baxter to use last week's victory over Harlequins as the ideal springboard for Friday's trip to Falcons.
With the two sides having met four times already this season - the head-to-head reads two wins apiece - it's this latest encounter at Kingston Park which is sure to prove the most important of all the meetings.
Last Saturday Baxter watched on with great satisfaction as his side chalked up their sixth league win of the season with a 20-6 home win over Harlequins, who themselves had arrived in Devon sporting a nine-game unbeaten run.
"We have talked this week that winning away from home is a bit special in the Premiership because you really have to play well in large areas of the game," said Baxter.
"I think, though, if we do that on Friday night then we'll give ourselves a great chance of getting points out of the game. You have to target points and get something out of every game you can and that has been our success so far this season."
Add into the mix that the Chiefs visited the same venue just a fortnight ago in the LV= Cup and Baxter believes his side will be fully prepared on what to expect.
"It was nice to have a look at the pitch, we're aware that if there's a fair bit of rain this week it could be pretty heavy and soft under foot, that obviously affects a lot of things you do," he said.
"We feel pretty comfortable with that and we've obviously had a good look at their team because they went pretty strong two weeks ago.
"I don't think we're going to feel under-prepared when we go there, I think it's going to be a really good mental challenge for us. If we get that right we give ourselves every opportunity - you don't tend to win away from home if you're a bit off."
Not surprisingly Baxter has named an unchanged starting XV for Friday's match. The only change he makes comes on the bench where Argentine prop Ignacio Elosu is called up for the injured Hoani Tui.
The teams:
Newcastle:15 Alex Tait, 14 Luke Fielden, 13 Luke Eves, 12 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 11 Gcobani Bobo, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Micky Young, 8 Ally Hogg, 7 Will Welch, 6 Tim Swinson, 5 Andrew Van der Heijden, 4 James Hudson, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Matt Thompson, 1 Jon Golding.
Replacements:16 Rob Vickers, 17 Kieran Brookes, 18 Grant Shiells, 19 Glen Townson, 20 Mark Wilson, 21 Hall Charlton, 22 James Fitzpatrick, 23 Jeremy Manning.
Exeter: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Matt Jess, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Sireli Naqelevuki, 11 Nic Sestaret, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Haydn Thomas, 8 Richard Baxter, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Tom Johnson, 5 James Hanks, 4 Tom Hayes (c), 3 Chris Budgen, 2 Neil Clark, 1 Brett Sturgess.
Replacements: 16 Chris Whitehead, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Ignacio Elosu, 19 Chad Slade, 20 James Phillips, 21 Junior Poluleuligaga, 22 Ryan Davis, 23 Phil Dollman.
Date: Friday, February 18
Venue: Kingston Park
Kick-off: 20.00 GMT
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