THERE might be 15 games of the Aviva Premiership season still to play, but it is no exaggeration to claim that tonight's game between Newcastle Falcons and Worcester Warriors will go a long way towards determining who is still playing in the division next season.

After the phoney war conducted during the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the dust is beginning to settle in English rugby, and already a stark division is coming into view.

From tenth position upwards, you find a cluster of sides improving rapidly following the return of their World Cup stars. Leicester, Northampton, Gloucester - all early-season strugglers; all ready to target the play-offs in forthcoming weeks.

Below them? The abyss. Newcastle, rooted to the foot of the table with one win from their seven matches, and Worcester, five points better off after scrambled wins over Northampton and Sale.

Barring an unexpected turn of events, one of the duo will be relegated next spring. And while tonight's game will not confirm either side's fate, things will look a damn sight better in the morning for the winners.

"It's far too early to talk about the game as a relegation decider," countered Falcons skipper James Hudson, who will return to action tonight after serving a four-match suspension.

"As far as I'm concerned, there is only one objective for us and that is to go out there and get a result to make sure we can push on for the rest of the season.

"If we want to enjoy the rest of the season, we need to push on and if we are to prove our potential then we need to show what we are about."

Nevertheless, given how difficult it is proving for Newcastle to secure victories this season, they can ill afford to pass up an opportunity to beat the side closest to them in the table.

Hudson's return will be a boost, with the lock having been unfortunate to suffer such a lengthy ban given the contested nature of an incident that saw him lift a London Irish player off the ground last month, but which could hardly be deemed a particularly dangerous act.

"It has certainly being a long four weeks for me," he said. "It has been very frustrating to have to watch the boys from the sideline, especially when I've been really fit and well. I am really excited about getting back out there.

"We haven't played at home for a couple of weeks and we are really excited about getting back out there. I've sat and watched Worcester Warriors on tape and they are a good side who don't concede many points.

"They have a good kicking game so we can't afford to give them opportunities in that department. Worcester are a useful team with a lot of threat across the park and we will have to be right on the money when they are in town."

As well as restoring Hudson to the starting line-up, head coach Alan Tait has made four other changes to the side that lost to Northampton last weekend.

Leading try scorer Greg Goosen replaces Jeremy Manning at full-back, while Alex Tait returns to the wing and Jordi Pasqualin gets the nod at scrum-half.

Kiwi Richard Mayhew also comes back in to the side to bolster a strong forward line that again includes Scotland international Euan Murray.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS (vs Worcester): Goosen, Tait, Uys, Helleur, Sheriffe, Gopperth, Pasqualin; Shiells, Graham, Murray, Hudson, van der Heijden, Mayhew, Welch, Hogg.

Replacements: Mayhew, Wells, Hall, Swinson, Pennycook, Pilgrim, Manning, Eves.