NEWCASTLE director of rugby Rob Andrew last night admitted that he expects today's Powergen Cup final with Sale Sharks to go all the way to extra-time.

The Falcons know all about last-gasp cup final successes after Dave Walder's dramatic injury-time try earned the club a 30-27 win over Harlequins in their last appearance at Twickenham three years ago.

There was nothing to choose between the two sides when Newcastle edged out Sale 9-8 in September's Premiership meeting at Kingston Park.

And Andrew expects things to be just as tough again when the two clubs lock horns at rugby's spiritual home this afternoon.

"None of us can call this game and put on our hands on our hearts and say 'Sale will win' or 'Newcastle will win'," said Andrew.

"We've all got views on the game, but the bottom line is that this will probably go to the last minute. On the day, it'll be down to which of our leading players pulls out that little bit extra.

"I've just got this gut feeling that it'll be extra-time. We've drawn our last two matches with Leeds and Leicester, so I wouldn't rule out it finishing all square again."

Newcastle's squad for today's final includes eight of the side that overcame Harlequins to lift the trophy three years ago.

That success came after some pulsating rugby that flowed from one end of the pitch to the other, and Andrew has urged his side to be brave enough to trust in their natural instincts again.

The Falcons chief has spoken extensively of his desire to see the breakdown refereed strictly and, provided that happens, he is confident of an attractive, attacking encounter.

"I think this team is pretty similar to the one that won the cup in a lot of respects," said Andrew. "We've still been pretty inconsistent this year and we're still not quite as experienced as we'd like to be as a club.

"But there are still a lot of the same players who were at Twickenham three years ago and they were brave enough, in that final, to play some very bold rugby.

"In the end, that was the reason why we won three years ago.

"We didn't freeze and we were very happy to go and play our game.

"As long as they do that again this time - as long as they are prepared to play - I think we'll be an attacking force.

"How good our defence is will determine whether we win or not, because we'll score. It's just a question of how many Sale score at the other end."

A victory today wouldn't just result in Newcastle bringing some silverware back to Tyneside - it would also see the Falcons qualify for the Heineken Cup.

Europe's premier knockout competition is rugby union's equivalent of football's Champions League and, with Newcastle still bidding to establish themselves amongst the likes of Leicester and Bath, an extended run in the Heineken Cup could do wonders for the club's profile.

"Heineken Cup qualification is almost becoming the holy grail of the Premiership.

"Everyone wants to win the league, but I think we would all like to consistently be in the Heineken Cup.

"That's where the battle lines are drawn. Both ourselves and Sale have got an opportunity to get there on Saturday, but whoever doesn't get there will still have a chance of qualifying via the other routes.

"As a club we've won the Premiership and won the cup, but we haven't made a mark in the Heineken Cup.

"We've only had one go in it and that was abysmal but, ultimately, that's where we'd like to be."

With Jonny Wilkinson ruled out until the end of the season, Mark Andrews is the only notable absentee in Andrew's 24-man squad for tomorrow's game.

The front rower has failed to recover from a calf strain, but both Jamie Noon and Epi Taione are available after recovering from minor knocks.

Newcastle (from): Archer, Britz, Charlton, Dowson, Dunbar, Gollings, Grimes, Grindal, Hamilton, Hurter, Lilley, Makin, Mayerhofler, May, Noon, Peel, Shaw, Stephenson, Taione, Thompson, Vyvyan, Walder, Ward, M.Wilkinson.