WALLSEND-BORN prop Micky Ward is backing a Newcastle pack containing three overseas men to front up in tonight's Guinness Premiership game at Gloucester.

The 27-year-old starts at tight head in a side showing six changes from the team which swept aside French challengers Montauban 35-0 last Sunday.

"The new lads coming into the squad have added a lot to the pack," said Ward, making special mention of tonight's skipper and fellow front row man Joe McDonnell, who is joined by fellow New Zealander, lock Mark Sorenson, and South African No 8 Russell Winter.

"I played against Joe for the New Zealand Maori in the Churchill Cup, and he really knows what's going on. He's been around the block, and it's good to have someone with his experience in the pack.

"He's someone I can talk to as well as the coaches when I have things to work on, so it's great having him here.

"Peter Walton and Ian Peel have been working very hard with us in training, and it's nice to see some of that finally translate into the matches a bit more than maybe it has in the past. We know we have a long way to go, but we feel now that we're moving in the right direction."

A Gloucester side who are in fine form and are coached by former Falcons skipper Dean Ryan hold no fears for Ward.

"We know what Dean's like from his time up here, and his sides will always be tough to play against," he said.

"He's brought some lunatics into the pack from France - I mean that in the nicest possible way - plus he has some old heads to go along with their youngsters.

"His mentality was always confrontational as a player and there'll be a bit of that I imagine. We're up for that challenge, and it's all set to be a good forward battle. I think we'll do well, even though it's a hard place to play.

"If we perform as we know we can then it could be a really good game, and we've already shown this season that we can win against the top sides, like Sale, Llanelli and Bristol."

* Jason Smithson is again keen to play for Darlington Mowden Park in tomorrow's National Three North match at West Park St Helens, who have reported their pitch in good condition.

Despite being booked in for an adductor muscle operation in the first week of January, the former Newcastle No 8 wanted to play at Leicester Lions last week, but Mowden felt they could win without him.

The back row struggled in the 16-10 defeat, so Smithson will again be pressing his claims on the grounds that his injury will not get any worse.

Gavin Stainsby will also come into the reckoning if he has recovered from the illness which ruled him out last week.

Darlington need a thaw if their match at home to Hull Ionians is to go ahead, with an inspection scheduled for 9am tomorrow.

They are hoping to have Rory Wood available, although there is some doubt about the registration of the former Barnard Castle School and Loughborough Students fly half because he has been in the United States.

He could come straight in at No 10 as Charlie Rayner has been ruled out for three weeks with an ankle injury, leaving Lee Davis with the kicking duties.