ROB Andrew is confident his Newcastle Falcons side can topple unbeaten Premiership leaders Bath in front of the Sky TV cameras at Kingston Park today (2.45).

Even without suspended skipper Mark Andrews and injured prop Marius Hurter, the Director of Rugby believes his team are playing well enough to end the visitors' 100 per cent record from six games.

"We have a good squad of players," said Andrew. "It's good to be back at home and we hope to pick up where we left off in the win against Gloucester.

"It's always difficult playing two away games in a row at places like Harlequins and Northampton, but we played well and could have won them both.

"Bath have recruited well. They have a big pack but they play a limited game and we are definitely capable of beating them."

Andrews has been suspended for four games for kneeing Harlequins' Pat Sanderson two weeks ago and will also miss the match at Wasps next Sunday followed by the two home games against Rotherham in league and cup.

Craig Hamilton takes Andrews' place while Micky Ward deputises for Hurter with Academy product David Wilson, from South Shields, as the replacement prop.

David Walder returns at full back at the expense of Joe Shaw, and with Tom May back on the wing Ben Gollings has to settle for a place on the bench. Epi Taione stays on the bench as Jon Dunbar will again start at blind side.

Former Falcons forward Soa Otuvaka will be presented with a cheque at half-time from the Professional Rugby Players Association benevolent fund.

The 25-year-old flanker's career ended last April when he was on loan to Darlington Mowden Park and suffered a seizure during the Durham Cup final against Westoe.

It was discovered that he had a brain tumour, and although he had successful surgery it would obviously be unwise for him to play again.

Otuvaka came to England from Tonga with Taione and they both initially played for Tynedale.

Mowden Park will have used 28 players in three games this month after today's National Three North match at New Brighton.

From last week's line-up, Kelekolio Paino, Martin Shaw and Eni Gisende are injured, Craig Firth is borderline after a hamstring injury and Ian Keeligan is unavailable to travel.

It could be that Keeligan is unwilling to give up a full day to keep the bench warm for 80 minutes, as he did last week.

Tom McLaren should be fit next week, but with fellow back row man Jon Dye also injured, Mowden are so stretched they have named head coach Stuart Whitehead among their replacements.

Tyneside student Andy Sutcliffe is the replacement prop, while Luke Monument has been called up to deputise for Paino, whose knee injury could keep him out for two weeks. Monument, 20, is a local lad studying in Sheffield and attached to the Rotherham Academy. He was in the Mowden squad at the end of last season.

Tony Irwin returns after flu at blind side, while Chris Blacklock makes his debut at centre in place of Shaw. Richard Holbrough will start at scrum half, with Andy Foreman and Chris Mattison on the wings. Mattison replaces Firth, who has been named on the bench.

With Sandy Mitchell keen to play, there is still the possibility that Mowden could suddenly find themselves with a glut of centres as Jonny Golightly could start his comeback in the seconds next week and Matt Howland has also started to train again.

Darlington go into their home match against Macclesfield on minus two points after receiving confirmation of the deduction following their withdrawal from last week's game at Fylde. They have also been fined in order to compensate Fylde for loss of income.

Skipper Paul Lee is fit to return, with his brother Craig likely to play at full back as David Haswell joins Tosh McIntee at centre.

Winger Paul Beattie, who scored two tries in the 50-16 home win against Macclesfield last season, makes his first appearance of the season.

New props Paul Shepherd and Simon Orr are in the squad and with hooker Dan Osleton available Darlington have the option to switch Rob Goddard to back row.

With Del Lewis at the World Cup for three weeks, Goddard will compete with Tom Wilkinson to play alongside Martin Howe and Andrew Carphin. Wilkinson is likely to get the vote as he provides an extra line-out option.