ROB Andrew is looking forward to a resumption of the sort of rugby which is helping to pack Premiership grounds when he sends out his Newcastle Falcons side for a top-of-the-table clash at Gloucester today.

The Director of Rugby was scathing in his criticism of Harlequins' "cynical" approach in ruining last Sunday's game at Kingston Park as a spectacle.

But he expects something very different at Kingsholm, saying: "It's going to be a great match. I think the three sides at the top - us, Gloucester and Sale - are the ones playing the most rugby.

"I am sure it will be a high-scoring game because of the way both teams like to play. There will be a lot of points and possibly some controversy - there always seems to be when we play down there."

The biggest row was three years ago when there were accusations of racism when Olivier Azam and Epi Taione were sent off.

The French hooker is back with Gloucester after spending last season with Montferrand, but Taione is unable to break into the Falcons team at the moment.

He can't contemplate a place in the back row when they are able to leave Colin Charvis on the bench today, and is likely to have to revert to his old role as a barnstorming winger.

But the Falcons are well served there by the skill and pace of Tom May and Michael Stephenson and have Mathew Tait providing the cover on the bench today as Joe Shaw replaces broken leg victim Mark Mayerhofler at centre.

The battle on the flanks could be a real thriller, with Gloucester boasting James Simpson-Daniel and Marcel Garvey, which is one reason why Andrew expects it to be an expansive, exciting game.

His selection of Shaw at No 12 might look like a gamble as the ex-Northampton man has played mainly at full back.

But Andrew explained: "I made the decision in the summer that centre is where I see Joe's long-term future. He will still be capable of playing full back or wing, but he has all the characteristics of an inside back.

"He is only 24 and we think he has a lot of potential as a No 12. He's a great distributor and kicker, he's strong, very good defensively, and even though there may be a few positional things initially he's playing between two of the best defensive backs in world rugby in Jonny Wilkinson and Jamie Noon.

"Joe has been training a lot at 12 throughout pre-season and we have an opportunity to try it out earlier than we expected.

"It's an interesting move and I think it will be a success, both short and long-term."

Phil Dowson returns to the back row after his RFU hearing decided that the one-week suspension imposed by the club was sufficient punishment for his sending-off at Bath. Marius Hurter and Matt Thompson return to the front row in place of Micky Ward and Andy Long, Luke Gross replaces Craig Hamilton at lock and James Grindal starts at scrum half for Hall Charlton.

Andrew added: "We have changed the back row a bit. Colin Charvis took a bang on the knee last week and didn't train for two days, but he will still get on. Phil Dowson has had a week off and Semo Sititi has played only one full game, so they should be fresh."

The Falcons haven't won at Kingsholm since they won the title in 1998, and after winning their first three games the next three are going to test this season's title credentials. They are at home to Leicester in a Sky-televised game next Saturday, which they expect to be a sell-out, and the following week they visit champions Wasps.

Darlington Mowden Park are to give South African Michael Georgiou his first start in National Three North. He comes in at fly half for the home game against Bradford and Bingley as Jonny Golightly has been unable to train for business reasons.

Mark Bedworth switches to inside centre, with Iain Dixon reverting to full back and Tom Lauriston moving out to the wing.

Props Ian Keeligan, who has had flu, and Dave Sinclair have volunteered to start, despite doubts about their fitness, while skipper Richard Holbrough has been pressed back into service after his dead leg. Andy Foreman reverts to the wing.

Darlington's front row problems have been resolved for the trip to Bedford Athletic with Joe Oselton and Rob Goddard fit again and Paul Shepherd back from holiday.

Goddard and Shepherd are on the bench with newcomer James Burns, plus David Andrew. Burns is a former Yorkshire Under-20s flanker. Oselton, lock Paul Radford and flanker Martin Howe strengthen the pack, while Richard Lang comes in at centre and Marc Potts on the wing, with David Kell at full back.

Blaydon will again be without prop Fatu Tulaga at home to Dudley Kingswinford, but winger Simon Barber and lock James Houghton have recovered from injuries suffered last week.