NEWCASTLE Falcons entertain Jersey this afternoon with the memory of their recent narrow scrapes against Bedford and Nottingham mitigating against any complacency.

Falcons are already guaranteed to finish the regular Championship season on top of the table, but will be keen to maintain a proud 100 per cent record that now stretches to 25 matches.

That unblemished run almost came to an end at the start of the month, but a dramatic last-minute try from Noah Cato secured a 17-15 win over Bedford.

Last weekend, Newcastle recorded another two-point victory as Joel Hodgson's late penalty set up a 14-12 success at Nottingham.

Neither game saw Falcons at their best, but the hard-fought nature of the contests should ensure the league leaders take nothing for granted in both their final three games of the season and the play-off campaign that will follow.

"The Bedford and Nottingham games have actually helped us because they have exposed us in certain areas which we can work on going into those crucial matches at the end of the season," said forwards coach John Wells, who took on media duties this week instead of director of rugby Dean Richards.

"It was good to have those hard fixtures, and now we have to learn the lessons of why we were exposed in certain areas and put things right for when the do-or-die games come around.

"I'm actually thankful that we are playing those types of games now, and I'm thankful that we are playing Jersey this weekend because they will come at us and that is what we want."

Be that as it may, this week's team selection suggests Richards is harbouring more than a degree of frustration at his players' failure to hit top form in their last two outings.

The Falcons chief has made nine changes to the side that stuttered at Nottingham, with the front row witnessing the most radical surgery.

Grant Shiells, Rob Vickers and Kieran Brookes form a new-look front three, with James Goode getting the nod ahead of Scott MacLeod at lock. Mark Wilson returns from illness at blindside flanker, with Ollie Stedman starting at number eight.

In the back division, Hodgson steps up from the replacements' bench at number ten, with Warren Fury completing a re-modelled half-back pairing at scrum-half.

Alex Crockett replaces Jamie Helleur in the centre and plays alongside Adam Powell, who is set to make his home debut.

"There is no doubt that they (Jersey) will come at us up front," said Wells. "They are probably the best scrummaging team in the Championship.

"I know our scrum is a good one, and I know on our day that we are the best in the league, but if we get it wrong, Jersey will punish us.

"Their driving lineout is excellent, and their pick-and-go game is good. If they get momentum in that department, it will be a tough game."

NEWCASTLE FALCONS: Catterick, Cato, Crockett, Powell, Shortland, Hodgson, Fury; Shiells, Vickers, Brookes, Tomes, Goode, Wilson, Welch, Stedman.

Replacements: Thompson, Hall, Golding, MacLeod, Pasqualin, Gopperth, Hogg.