SAMOAN captain Semo Sititi and Australian full back Matt Burke will make their first Zurich Premiership starts for Newcastle Falcons in tomorrow's opening home match of the season.

They tackle Harlequins, described by Director of Rugby Rob Andrew as "a bit of a bogey side," but they will be confident of completing a hat-trick of wins after the victories at Worcester and Bath.

After initially claiming mistaken identity when No 8 Phil Dowson was singled out for a red card following a fracas at Bath, the Falcons have accepted that he threw a punch and suspended him for a week.

He is still likely to receive a three-week ban from the RFU, but the Falcons have demonstrated that they will not tolerate indiscipline.

It also clears the way for Sititi and something close to a capacity crowd will be keen to see the man who finished off the sensational Samoa try which rocked England in the World Cup.

There has been a big demand for tickets and those who haven't got one but wish to see the game are urged to ring the ticket hotline today (10am-4pm) on 0871 226 6060. It will also be open between 10am and noon tomorrow.

The club also has a new ticket office near the shop behind the East Stand, which will be open today from 10am. Tickets at £15 or £25 for a seat (£8 and £14 for juniors) cost an extra £2 on the day of the match.

Other changes from last week's team see Scotland lock Craig Hamilton come in for Luke Gross, Micky Ward at tight head for Marius Hurter and Hall Charlton at scrum half for James Grindal.

As Hurter is not 100 per cent fit James Isaacson will be on the bench with hooker Matt Thompson, who again plays second fiddle to Andy Long. Joe Shaw, who makes way for Burke, is also among the replacements but could have to wait his turn behind David Walder, who didn't get on at all last week.

Andrew said: "We have rotated the squad. It's a long season and we know how important having a strong squad is to us.

"Matt Burke has been outstanding in training. We were down to 13 men when he went on at Bath and he didn't really touch the ball. We think he will add to what we have already been building.

"Quins are a bit of a bogey side and we have only beaten them once in the last few years."

Quins will be without England centre Matt Greenwood following a blow on the head in last week's 45-13 home defeat by Northampton. They lost to London Irish in the Twickenham double-header the previous week and have made a poor start under the captaincy of South African No 8 Andre Vos.

Like most clubs, they have signed a number of Pacific Islanders, such as scrum half Steven So'oialo and flanker Maama Molitika, while Newcastle will watch out for winger Ugo Monye, who has shown his paces before at Kingston Park.

Darlington Mowden Park must avenge their opening-day league defeat by Cleckheaton if they are to enjoy their usual run in the Powergen Cup, and this time they don't have home advantage.

With Fosita Tanginoa restored to the second row, it's the same pack as for the league clash except that Matthew Wright is at open side for Jonny Boatman.

Paul Evans reverts to No 8 at the expense of Tom McLaren, who leaves for France in mid-October. He no longer has his rugby development job in Newcastle and intends to work his way home to Australia via France and Italy.

He is on a seven-man bench today from which Boatman is absent as he has joined West Hartlepool because he wants to play regular rugby after three years on the fringe of the Mowden team.

Jason Smithson strengthens the back row cover on the Mowden bench as he and Danny Brown are not required for Falcons Development XV duty next week.

The backs are the same as for last week's defeat at Tynedale, but South African Michael Georgiou can again expect to get on, along with Gareth Kerr.

Darlington find themselves in a similar position to this time last season after losing their first two games and suddenly suffering from a shortage of props.

Paul Shepherd is away and Joe Oselton is injured, but coach Phil Lancaster will play rather than opt out of the cup tie at Rugby Lions. When they couldn't raise a front row for the league match at Fylde last season they had two points deducted.

Lock David Evans is also injured, so 19-year-old James Snowball will make his first senior start alongside his brother Richard.

Winger Paul Beattie has returned and comes in for Lee Davis, who damaged ankle ligaments in training, while David Glendenning is selected at centre with David Kell at full back. Marc Potts has recovered from injury and will be on the bench, along with new hooker David Taylor, a South African who played for Wanderers.

Blaydon go to Blackburn, who are two levels below them in North Two West. They bring in Justin Clarke at prop and Paul Vinnicombe for unavailable No 6 Dave Marwick.

In the backs Nick Wainwright and Dave Grand are suffering from slight knocks, so Peter Kilburn and Robert Windle deputise.

Horden were handed a walkover by Ashington in the Intermediate Cup, so they have agreed to visit West Hartlepool, who were knocked out of the senior Powergen event in the preliminary round.

Boatman will make his debut for West.