NEWCASTLE Falcons have selected prop James Isaacson at hooker for their final match of the season against relegated Rotherham at the Don Valley Stadium today.

The move is part of Director of Rugby Rob Andrew's search for more flexibility in his squad, and he has also stressed that he wants four line-out forwards in the team next season.

Isaacson, a Durham School product who spent much of the 2002 season on loan at Mowden Park, has missed a large chunk of this season after breaking a leg in the United States last summer.

"Since he came back we have spent a lot of time developing him as a hooker and he has played there in the Zurich A League," said Andrew.

"We are looking at it in terms of what options it gives us next season. It gives you flexibility on the bench if you have a genuine hooker/prop, which we have never had at this club. People like Federico Mendez and Olivier Azam have done it and it helps with the scrummaging enormously."

Today's team includes Craig Hamilton alongside Stuart Grimes at lock and both have been named in the Scotland squad to tour Australia and New Zealand this summer. Former Newcastle No 8 Ross Beattie is also in the squad, but there is no place for flanker Andrew Mower, who has been out since just before the World Cup.

The Falcons prefer Phil Dowson to Jon Dunbar, who is leaving to join Leeds with Andrew's blessing, despite having played a big part this season.

"Jon has been a great performer for us, but we have seen this season what a good player Phil has developed into. It's going to be a big season for him next year.

"He can play anywhere across the back row and is a line-out forward. In the modern game having flexibility in your squad is something we are looking at very closely.

"We are looking at having four line-out forwards in the team because that area of the game is just so competitive. We have to have two in the back row who can be effective in the line-out."

Andrew added that new signing Mike McCarthy fits the bill in terms of flexibility and line-out work because he can play at lock or in the back row.

He likened the 22-year-old former Wasps and England Under-21 player, who has spent this season with Connacht, to Dowson.

"He's at a good age in that he's physically developed, although he still has a long way to go. We are still looking for two more big-name forwards."

Andrew also praised the contribution of departing forwards coach Andy Blades over the last two years, while welcoming Ross Nesdale back to the club as his replacement.

"Andy has done a fantastic job," he said. "In the short time he has been here he has been outstanding. The only way we would have allowed him to go early was for him to get a job with the Australian national team. He's done that and we couldn't stand in his way.

"But we couldn't really have done much better than getting Ross in. He has worked with the All Blacks on their line-out and will be a big help to us in that area."

Nesdale, who played for the Falcons for five years, said: "I've heard great things about the stadium, and a lot of the ingredients from when we won the league are still there, such as Rob Andrew and Steve Black. I'm really looking forward to it."

Newcastle are giving England Sevens star Ben Gollings an outing on the wing today in place of Mathew Tait.

* Durham have no match in the County Championship today. They were due to visit Bracknell to play Berkshire, who have been thrown out of the competition after failing to fulfil their fixture against Yorkshire at Harrogate last week.

In the quarter-finals of the main event, Yorkshire entertain Cheshire at Otley today while Northumberland face Warwickshire at Nuneaton.

Blaydon skipper Dave Guthrie returns for Northumberland in place of Tynedale lock Steve Turnbull, who has a broken finger.

Toby Flood, the Newcastle Academy boy from Morpeth, is at fly half again after starring in the win against Lancashire.