Preview: Newcastle v Gloucester

Newcastle Falcons welcome back Tom Biggs to their starting XV as they host Gloucester in a rearranged Guinness Premiership encounter.

Newcastle Falcons welcome back Tom Biggs to their starting XV as they host Gloucester in a rearranged Guinness Premiership meeting on Wednesday.

With three games in the space of just six days director of rugby Steve Bates has taken the opportunity to add a sprinkling of fresh legs, with Biggs coming onto the wing in place of Charlie Amesbury who misses out with a groin injury

Elsewhere in the side Filipo Levi moves up to the second row in tandem with Mark Sorenson, with Brent Wilson reverting to blindside, Ed Williamson coming in at openside and Josh Afu starting at number eight.

Director of Rugby, Steve Bates, said: “We have mixed things up a bit following Sunday's disappointing result at Saracens.

“Although we have had very little in the way of preparation time the boys are all keen to get back out there and put the record straight after letting ourselves down last weekend.

“Gloucester are in virtually the same situation time-wise having played on Saturday, and it's down to us to get on with it and put in a big home performance in what we all know is a vital match for us given how tight it is around the bottom part of the table.”

Meanwhile, with another at home to Saracens on Saturday, Head Coach Bryan Redpath has to make full use of his squad for the trip.

Redpath has to take into account injuries, which deprive him of the services of his two joint captains tomorrow night, as well as the regulations which limit the number of minutes that England Elite Playing Squad members can play in a week.

With Mike Tindall missing out and Tim Molenaar still not available after injury, James Simpson-Daniel moves into the centre and Charlie Sharples comes in on the wing.

There is a new look second row as Dave Attwood and Alex Brown both return from injury whilst, in the back row, Adam Eustace replaces Gareth Delve.

Form: The Falcons' only win in their last seven encounters with Gloucester in all competitions was 10-7 in this equivalent fixture last season. This game was originally scheduled for January 10 but snow prevented it being played. Newcastle have not won since their 20-3 home victory over Petrarca Padova in the Amlin Challenge Cup on January 22, whilst their only victory in their last nine games in the Guinness Premiership was 12-6 at London Wasps on January 3. Gloucester's last five matches in the Guinness Premiership have all been won by the home side on the day, and Gloucester have won just once on the road in the competition since December 2008: 26-10 at Leeds Carnegie on 4 October 2009.

The teams:

Newcastle: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Danny Williams, 13 Gcobani Bobo, 12 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Micky Young, 8 Josh Afu, 7 Ed Williamson, 6 Brent Wilson, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Filipo Levi, 3 Carl Hayman (c), 2 Rob Vickers, 1 Jon Golding.
Replacements: 16 Alex Walker, 17 Micky Ward, 18 Grant Shiells, 19 James Hudson, 20 Tim Swinson, 21 Chris Pilgrim, 22 Tom Catterick, 23 Rob Vickerman.

Gloucester: 15 Freddie Burns, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 James Simpson-Daniel, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Rory Lawson, 8 Adam Eustace, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Peter Buxton (c), 5 Alex Brown, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 Pierre Capdevielle, 2 Olivier Azam, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Rupert Harden, 19 Marco Bortolami, 20 Apo Satala, 21 Andy Williams, 22 Tim Taylor, 23 Jonny May.

Date: Wednesday March 31
Venue: Kingston Park
Kick-off: 20.00 GMT