JONNY Wilkinson was yesterday named in a Newcastle Falcons squad of 26 for tomorrow night's match at Northampton. But he is still not certain to play.

Director of Rugby Rob Andrew hinted that the decision about whether to play in the Zurich Premiership match or to go on the Lions tour to New Zealand this summer would be largely down to the player.

"He has taken a full part in training this week and we are more confident than we were last week. We hope he will play some part," said Andrew.

"If the call comes from the Lions he then has to decide whether going to New Zealand is the right thing to do, and only Jonny can make that call."

Far from worrying about relegation, which is a remote possibility, Andrew is hoping Falcons can win their two remaining games and qualify for the Heineken Cup wild card play-offs.

The are currently seventh and Andrew said: "It looks to me like the teams finishing sixth and seventh will be at home in the play-offs and that's what we have to aim for.

"We have had a bad month and it has caught up with us a bit, so we need the sort of injection you get from having big players back like Jonny and Colin Charvis. If we can go into the play-offs with a full side we will take some stopping."

Prop Ian Peel, joint captain with Wilkinson, is in the squad, although he also faces a fitness test following the back problem which has forced him out of the last two games.

Mathew Tait has a chance of being fit after going off at half-time in Sunday's defeat by Worcester because of an ankle injury. He was preferred in that match to Michael Stephenson, who is reported to be in talks with Bath, while Epi Taione is expected to join Sale next season.

For Falcons to finish bottom they would have to lose tomorrow and at home to London Irish on April 30, and every result involving the five teams currently below them would have to go against them.

The bottom two, Leeds and Northampton, would both have to win their two remaining games. After the Falcons' visit Northampton's last match is at Worcester, who could lose that match and still climb above Newcastle if they won their other game at Wasps.

Leeds are at home to Harlequins and away to Bath, while Quins' final game is at home to Sale.

* Middlesbrough went out of the Yorkshire Cup when they lost their second round tie 49-7 away to Leeds seconds in a match played on Roundhay's old ground at Chandos Park.

* Former Boro player Lee Davies, now with Darlington, has been named at fly half in the Yorkshire team to face Warwickshire at Otley in the Under-20s Championship quarter-final at Otley on Saturday.