NEWCASTLE intend to shrug off the absence of their three England backs and give Harlequins the runaround at Kingston Park tonight (6pm).

The evidence from a comfortable home win against Sale and a 19-0 defeat at London Irish is that the Falcons have still to bridge the gap between their home and away form.

So they are looking to win with some style tonight against a side who won a dour contest at Kingston Park last season 14-3.

Director of Rugby John Fletcher said: "Quins pushed London Irish around in the early part of their game two weeks ago. We are expecting a feisty start and they will try to slow the ball down.

"We have to win our own ball and try to impose some pace on the game."

South African Russell Winter comes in at No 8 with skipper Phil Dowson moving to open side as Ben Woods is likely to be out for six weeks with a broken hand.

Lock Jason Oakes returns after a knee injury in place of Andy Perry, while England Saxons scrum half Lee Dickson comes in for James Grindal.

Fletcher added: "Our defensive effort last week was good, with very few missed tackles. But when you concede as much possession as we did the result is pretty inevitable.

"Losing Ben is a big blow as he was arguably our best forward last season. We are also without Andy Buist, who has been one of our outstanding recent performers but got injured against Sale. He is to see a specialist about a tear in his shoulder and if he needs an operation he could be out for a few months."

Fletcher is happy to switch Dowson to open side, saying: "The way Phil plays is pretty much like a No 7, looking for turnovers. We have a good balance in the back row, with the pace and impact of Brent Wilson waiting to come off the bench.

"Geoff Parling is at six and he has played in the back row pretty much all the time I have coached him. The difference between lock and No 6 in the modern game is virtually nothing. They all tackle and they all carry the ball, and Geoff has been our top man for carries this season."

Former Newcastle prop Jimmy Isaacson has a leg injury and misses Blaydon's National Two match at home to second-placed Manchester. Justin Clark is likely to take over, while hooker Matt Hall and lock Paul Clark return. Also added to the squad is former Watsonians fly half Scott Kennedy, who has landed 16 out of 17 kicks in the second team so far.

Darlington Mowden Park need to climb away from third bottom place in Three North by winning at home to the team just above them, Fylde.

With front row resources stretched by calf injuries to Danny Brown and Shaun Buckley, while Ian Keeligan is ill, Mowden have secured the services of Ross Batty as hooker.

He has been on loan from Newcastle to Northampton but is happy to return to a club for whom he played everywhere from front row to wing when he first joined the Falcons' academy.

Of Mowden's original centre pairing, skipper Jamie Connolly is away on business and Tom Wilkinson has broken an ankle in training, so Martin Featherstone is paired with Iain Dixon.

Ed Williamson is ill, but such is the glut of back row men that even though Jason Smithson has recovered from injury he and Scott Riddell have to settle for bench duties.

Aaron Myers makes his first start at open side, with Phil Dawson at No 8 and Robbie Farenheim at six.

Andy Foreman continues at scrum half with Rob Stewart required to prove his fitness in the second team, while another ex-Darlington half back, Charlie Raynor, is on the bench.

Darlington need to break their duck in North One by winning at home to Liverpool St Helens, who are two places above them.

Skipper Lee Richardson faces a fitness test, so David Glendenning stands by to return at centre, and with Jimmy Atkinson injured Rory Wood switches from fly half to the wing.

A new half back partnership is tried in Charlie Catterall and Matt Sellars, while flanker Andrew Tonkin and hooker Rob Goddard return to the pack and Ali Carter retains his pace at prop.

David Andrew is again on the bench, along with prop Joe Oselton as he recovers from a back injury.

Head coach Kevin Robinson said: "It is a must win game with players needing to ask themselves if they have the passion and commitment to play at this level. There is no hiding place. They have the skills and the quality but that last ingredient of courage and commitment is what brings success."

Middlesbrough expect to be drawn into a tighter game at home to Kendal than in their ten-try romp at Darlington.

Lock Chris Webb returns with Iain Bradford switching to blind side as Matt Wright is unavailable, and Jack Aldus retains his place at No 8 with Richie Barker on the bench.

Boro's second team captain, prop Steve Duffy, this week joined Redcar.

West Hartlepool hope to make it four wins out of four in North Two East when they visit Old Crossleyans. They give a debut on the wing to ex-Sandal and Vale of Lune player Rob Thorn, and Greg Edwards returns at centre. Ex-boxer Dave Garside joins the Boatman brothers in the back row.

In D and N One Stockton entertain West Hartlepool TDSOB with ex-colt Rob Allen making his debut in place of unavailable winger Jamie Hauxwell.

Newcastle Falcons are to entertain the Dutch Under 19s team next weekend. They will watch the Premiership match against Leeds Tykes, train at the new facilities at Druid Park, and play the Falcons Under 19s on Sunday afternoon.

Northallerton, who scrambled through to the second round of the EDF Junior Vase on the away team rule after drawing 20-20 after extra time at Hemsworth, have been drawn at home to Aspatria Eagles on October 13.

The draw also includes: Bishop Auckland v Creighton, Carnforth v Seghill, Chester le Street v Netherhall, Garforth v York Railway Institute, Hartlepool B.B.O.B. v Moortown, Hessle v Hartlepool, Hullensians v Hartlepool, Roundhegians v Whitby, Seaton Carew v Knaresborough or Bramley Phoenix Pk.