PROP Micky Ward and winger Tom May will both make their 200th appearance for Newcastle Falcons when they kick off their Guinness Premiership campaign at home to Sale Sharks tomorrow.

Ward, the 28-year-old tight head from Wallsend, is confident the World Cup will not be a distraction and even without Jonny Wilkinson, Jamie Noon, Mathew Tait and All Blacks prop Carl Hayman the Falcons will be a real force.

Not that they are overstating their prospects, with Ward saying: "We're deliberately not making the usual statements about this being our year, we're just knuckling down and getting on with it.

"Pre-season has been outstanding, and we've had a level of planning that I've never seen before at this club. Training has been totally overhauled at every level - fitness, weights, skills or whatever.

"We've ripped up the book and started again this time because it was pretty obvious something needed to be done.

"Steve Bates has come in for the technical side of things and made a big difference, and the coaches have been planning the whole thing for months."

Ward, who became a dad over the summer, added: "I've been here ten or eleven years, and it's changed me massively as a person.

"The amount of experience I've picked up, not just in rugby but in life, is amazing. I've been to places I would never have gone to, and I've met people from all walks of life. I didn't even knew what a tuxedo was until I started here."

A firm favourite on the Kingston Park terraces, the England Saxon continued: "I just try and treat everyone as a pal really, and that includes the fans.

"After the game I always go for a pint in the supporters' bar and speak to as many people as I can. Every time I hear someone shout my name or cheer for me when I'm out on the field it just gives me a massive lift.

"I suppose they can identify with me a bit because I was brought up in the same area as them, I went to the same sort of schools as their kids and I've worked my socks off to get in to a privileged position.

"I love it when we go and speak to kids on our community visits, and the fact that my old school in Wallsend has one of my shirts on the wall is fantastic."

The Falcons have a new skipper in Phil Dowson, who helped England Saxons to Churchill Cup glory over the summer.

Also included is fly half Toby Flood, with Director of Rugby John Fletcher benefiting from England's decision not to call up the 22-year-old playmaker, although he may get the call next week.

"I am sympathetic to the England coach Brian Ashton, because he had to pick a squad of 30 on a certain day in August when Charlie Hodgson hadn't proved his fitness," said Fletcher.

"It's a case of the competition rules forcing the situation to develop rather than anything else. What it does mean is that the supporters at Kingston Park can see Flood and Hodgson going head to head.

"Our backline also contains a World Cup winner in Matt Burke, an All Black in Mark Mayerhofler and they are surrounded by experienced Premiership players. Some of the younger guys like Adam Dehaty and Alex Tait are knocking on the door extremely hard."

Tickets for the game are available in advance by calling 0871 226 60 60, or from the Kingston Park ticket office for match-day cash sales.

Newcastle Falcons: Matt Burke, Tom May, Mark Mayerhofler, Joe Shaw, John Rudd, Toby Flood, James Grindal, Joe McDonnell, Matt Thompson, Micky Ward, Andy Buist, Mark Sorenson, Geoff Parling, Ben Woods, Phil Dowson (capt).Replacements: Andy Long, David Wilson, Andy Perry, Brent Wilson, Lee Dickson, Steve Jones, Ollie Phillips

Blaydon meet Halifax in their first home match in National Two today and introduce a dreadlocked South African centre in David Manuel, who has played in the Currie Cup for three years.

Paul Clark comes in for injured lock Dave Whitehead and Andy Fenby returns on the wing for Scotland Sevens star Cameron Johnston, whose studies in Perth might restrict his availability.

Halifax, promoted from Three North two years ahead of Blaydon, have named Craig Aikman at scrum half even though he has just returned from playing for England Counties in France.

Darlington Mowden Park introduce Newcastle Falcons back row man Ed Williamson for the visit of Three North newcomers Beverley. He was one of a trio loaned to Cornish Pirates but was not getting a game.

He starts at blind side, with Paul Vinnicombe on the bench, while local lad Chris Dodd comes in for unavailable lock Luke Monument.

Last week's two-try hero, full back Tom Wilkinson,. is joined on the casualty list by Danny Brown and Gareth Kerr, so the reshuffle in the backs sees ex-Harrogate centre Martin Featherstone given his first start. Iain Dixon switches to full back and the Foreman brothers, Gareth and Andy, are on the wings with Rob Stewart back at scrum half.

In North One Darlington visit Cleckheaton, who won by three points last week at Middlesbrough, who are again at home.

They face Liverpool for the first time since they merged with St Helens and with skipper Dave Richardson back at centre Paul Norris switches to the wing with Simon O'Farrell dropping to the bench.

Last year's captain Iain Bradford, who put in an impressive 20 minutes off the bench last week, replaces unavailable lock Chris Webb.

Stockton entertain Horden, who were relegated last season but started well by beating Sunderland .The home backs are strengthened by the return of centre Peter Armstrong and winger Ritchie Brown.

The draw for the first round of the EDF Energy Senior Vase on October 13 includes: Ashington v West Hartlepool TDSOB, Billingham v Gosforth, Bridlington v Scarborough, Consett v Sunderland, Knottingley v Malton and Norton, Medicals v Stockton, Novocastrians v Percy Park, Redcar v Old Brodleians, Ripon v Horden, Ryton v Ponteland, Upper Eden v Northern, Wallsend v Alnwick, Wigton v Barnard Castle.