NEWCASTLE Falcons will not be taking Leeds lightly when the Guinness Premiership's bottom club visit Kingston Park tonight (8pm).

The Falcons have lost only once at home in the last 11 months and Director of Rugby John Fletcher said: "Teams don't like playing here, partly because of the time it takes to travel, but for Leeds that won't be so much of a factor.

"Once they pass Scotch Corner a lot of teams think they're in the wilderness, and all the other directors of rugby whenever they speak to me just twist all the time about having to come to Kingston Park, especially on a Friday night."

Since returning to the Premiership at the first attempt, Leeds have lost all three games, but Fletcher said: "We won't be complacent at all, because we know Leeds are a good team. They have been in contention in all their games.

"Against an outstanding Gloucester side they were leading at half-time, and they had as much ball as Saracens last week."

Fletcher was, however, at pains to point out another reason for the Falcons' proud home streak, saying: "We might not have the biggest crowd but we certainly have the best. They're extremely supportive. They don't give the players any grief, they get right behind them and they make a lot of noise.

"The players all love playing in front of them, and especially on a Friday because it's a unique atmosphere here at our night games."

David Wilson, the young tight head prop from South Shields, makes his first start of the season and All Black centre Mark Mayerhofler, left, returns after injury in place of Tom Dillon.

Fletcher explained: "Bringing in Davey Wilson is no reflection on Micky Ward, who has had a good start to the season.

"Davey is a young prop who has earned the right to start this game by the quality of his performances from the bench.

"We have a lot of competition for places, and as a coach these are just the tough decisions you have to make."

Lock Andy Buist faces a shoulder operation this weekend which could see him sidelined for at least two months.

Newcastle Falcons: Matthew Burke, Tom May, Mark Mayerhofler, Joe Shaw, John Rudd, Steve Jones, Lee Dickson, Joe McDonnell, Andy Long, David Wilson, Jason Oakes, Mark Sorenson, Geoff Parling, Phil Dowson (captain), Russell Winter

The Falcons Under-19s will face the Dutch Under-19s tomorrow on the synthetic surface at Druid Park, the club's new state-of-the-art training facility next to Newcastle Airport.

The first team use the IRB-approved surface daily for training, including full contact sessions, while Gosforth are now based at Druid Park but have met some objections from other teams reluctant to play there.

The match kicks off at 12.30 with free entry for supporters, among whom will be Newcastle winger Tim Visser, whose younger brother Sep is in the Holland team.

The family connection does not end there, with dad Marc, the former Dutch national team No 8, being among the tour organisers for the travelling squad.

John Fletcher said: "We have been training on the pitch at Druid Park for around a month now and would have no qualms at all about playing a match on it with our professional squad.

"The surface is absolutely perfect, and we are delighted with the quality of training it allows us to do, especially when the weather leaves our grass pitches unplayable.

"We would not use Druid Park as the training base for our professional squad if we had any doubts whatsoever about the surface, but the players all love it and we look forward to playing some Development XV matches there."