NEWCASTLE FALCONS are 80 minutes away from a return to the Aviva Premiership and director of rugby Dean Richards has urged his side to finish the job properly.

Richards has named an unchanged starting line-up for tonight’s Championship playoff final second leg with Bedford Blues at Kingston Park (7.45pm).

Falcons take a nine-point lead into the tie after last Thursday’s 18-9 win at Goldington Road, but Richards is taking nothing for granted and believes his side have some improving to do on their first-leg display.

“Nine points is nothing,” Richards said.

“Last season against London Welsh in the semi-final they (Bedford) went something like 17 points down and came right back to only lose by a few, so they are a capable side and can play a good brand of rugby.

“It is not about the result, though, it is about how you perform, and when we looked back at the Bedford game I didn’t think we were particularly good. We blew too many scoring chances, and the only way you can look at the game is to go out there and do as well as you possibly can.

“Our focus has been on that in the build-up to the second leg, and on not getting carried away by the occasion or any personal agendas. It is about performing as a team, and while we were workmanlike at Bedford our execution of try-scoring chances was a little bit awry.”

On the bench Matt Thompson replaces Michael Mayhew as Newcastle lock horns with Bedford for the fifth time this campaign with Richards’ men claiming victory in the four previous meetings.

Blues director of rugby Mike Rayer has made six changes and he brings in Ollie Dodge for Brendan Burke at outside centre and Josh Bassett for James Stephenson on the wing.

Darryl Veenendaal and Jake Sharp replace Luke Baldwin and Myles Dorrian at nine and ten, and in the front row Scott Spurling and Dan Seal replace Neil Cochrane and Phil Boulton.

Tickets are available by calling 0871 226 6060 or online at www.newcastle-falcons.co.uk