JONNY Wilkinson will make his first start of the season for Newcastle Falcons at Leicester tonight (7.45) as they attempt to avoid a repeat of last season's drubbings by the Tigers.

The Falcons lost 44-15 at home and 83-10 at Welford Road, but Director of Rugby Rob Andrew said: "Last year has been wiped from the memory because it's not relevant. We went down there with barely 15 fit players but we approach this match with a strong squad and everything to play for."

Wilkinson has impressed when coming off the bench in two Powergen Cup matches and will now attempt to get through 80 minutes of Guinness Premiership action.

Dave Walder returns to the squad to provide the cover as Toby Flood is ruled out by the ankle injury which forced him off at Llanelli on Sunday.

England centre Jamie Noon will have a fitness test on the knee problem which kept him out in Wales, but the best he can hope for is a place on the bench.

Among the others ruled out by injury are prop Ian Peel (neck) and lock Stuart Grimes (ribs), so the only other changes to the starting line-up are in the front row.

The trio who went on for the second half against Llanelli, Micky Ward, Robbie Morris and Andy Long, will start this time.

Andrew added: "We have to attack them. If we sit back and try to defend we will get murdered. We are saying let's not be daunted, let's run the ball, take the game to them and see if they can live with the pace.

"It will be tough up front because there are few better front fives in the club game than Leicester's, but we believe we can hurt them in certain areas and have players right across the field who can score tries.

"It has been a short week with playing on Sunday and Friday. But despite the result at Llanelli there was some good rugby and we want to build on that."

Wilkinson went on as a replacement for Walder when the Falcons lost their opening Premiership match by one point at Sale, but was then ruled out by his appendix operation.

Andrew said: "Jonny just needs game time and we are delighted to have him back in the team."

The match will be shown live on the big screen at Kingston Park.