NEWCASTLE Falcons will hand a Premiership debut today to former Durham University flanker Ben Woods, 18 months after he suffered a career-threatening injury.

Woods gets his chance at open side in the Sky-televised match at Northampton (2.45) following injuries to Cory Harris and Phil Dowson, who is out for six months with a neck problem.

"Ben has had a terrible 18 months," said Director of Rugby Rob Andrew, who celebrates ten years with the club next week.

"It was a really horrendous leg break, but every person who works at the club and has seen his determination every day in rehab is thrilled for him.

"He was in the Dowson class when he suffered the injury - he was one of England Under-21s' best players. He made his comeback when he came off the bench on our tour in Japan and scored with his first touch and he has since scored four tries in two Development XV games. We believe he is strong enough physically and mentally and merits his start."

The loss of No 8 Dowson is a huge blow for the club and for a player who has been a key member of the England Sevens squad for the last two years, as well as being in the full England squad for the Churchill Cup in Canada during the summer.

Prop Ian Peel also has a neck injury and awaits the results of a scan, while a rib injury rules out hooker Matt Thompson from a match which will be shown live on the big screen at Kingston Park.

Andrew said: "It's a revolving door with injuries. It's a case of whether you have enough coming back through the door when you lose players. We have lost Dowson and Cory Harris in the back row but we have Woods and Owen Finegan coming back. If you can keep the equation about equal you have a chance."

With winger Anthony Elliott ruled out by a shoulder injury, there is also a first Premiership start of the season for Mathew Tait.

Andy Long returns at hooker, Geoff Parling replaces Stuart Grimes in the second row, Finegan makes his first start at blind side and Colin Charvis reverts to No 8.

Newcastle have taken only two points from their first two games, both for losing by fewer than seven points, and Andrew has promised there will be no repeat of the complacency shown in last week's shock home defeat by promoted Bristol.

The fact that Bristol have won their first two games suggests they won't necessarily go straight back down, which puts early pressure on the teams at the bottom.

"Nothing in sport is more important than the next game and the players have had that drummed into them this week," said Andrew.

"Last week they thought they would win just by turning up. You can't guarantee victory in this game, but you should be able to guarantee a level of performance which gives you a chance of victory. We didn't have that last week.

"At Sale we played fantastically well and but for a couple of errors we could have won away to one of the best teams in the Premiership.

"But against Bristol the performance was just weak. As coaches we have to look at ourselves and ask if we allowed complacency to creep in. You try to cover everything in your preparation but after that performance we as a coaching team have learnt a lot as well.

"Having watched the tapes it is clear we should have won the game, despite being appalling on the day. We are still a good side and have a belief that we can beat teams."

Northampton have made a lot of signings, including All Blacks fly half Carlos Spencer, after finishing next to the bottom last season. They have been heavily beaten by Leicester but won at Bath.

Their former prop Robbie Morris, now with Newcastle, said: "I'm looking forward to going back there but the most important thing is that the team get a win so we are up and running.

"The first few days this week were difficult after such a poor performance. We let the fans down badly, but we have worked hard to learn the lessons. It's about getting the attitude right on match day and we know we weren't sufficiently switched on, so we are ready this time.

"Northampton obviously have a few star names in the backs and in their first home game they will be looking to put in a massive performance. They will put it about a bit and be up for a scrap. We just have to meet fire with fire."

* There are no league matches from National Three downwards today as it's Powergen Cup day.

In the National Trophy, Westoe should progress to the third round at home to Beverley, while Morpeth face a tougher task at Chester.

West Hartlepool make their first appearance in the Intermediate Cup with a trip to Gateshead, while a Teesside derby sees Middlesbrough visit Billingham.

Hartlepool Rovers go to Northern and Redcar to Malton and Norton, but the most interesting tie could be Consett v Durham City.

City, who pipped their hosts for promotion from Durham and Northumberland One last season, have made five changes.

Lithuanian international Tomas Bieliauskas comes in at centre and county winger Toro Higuchi returns after injury for one of his last appearances before leaving for London.

Graham Herbert and Kevin Showler, who defied injuries to play last week, are replaced at prop and lock by Mark Cammiss and ex-captain Paul Price, while Peter Nichols comes in at scrum-half.