Newcastle will look to put poor domestic form behind them when they enter the European arena this afternoon.

The Falcons have recorded a solitary victory from eight Aviva Premiership starts this term, leaving them five points adrift of 11th-placed Worcester.

French club Lyon are the visitors to Kingston Park today for an Amlin Challenge Cup Pool Two clash, and Newcastle must target a minimum four-point return, given that their group also includes former Falcons star Jonny Wilkinson's Toulon.

Newcastle head coach Alan Tait has made seven changes, including a start for fly-half Jeremy Manning instead of the rested Jimmy Gopperth, while wing Ryan Shortland and centre Luke Eves also feature.

"They are a typical French side who like to utilise a lot of high kicks, which can make things difficult,'' Tait said.

"We are just concentrating on ourselves, and there will be changes again for the trip to Italy (against Petrarca Padova) next week."

Sale Sharks travel to Brive in Pool Five, where victory for Steve Diamond's men would strengthen their quarter-final hopes on the tournament's opening weekend.

"We have had a good week preparing for this game," Diamond said.

"Brive will be difficult, though, as they are a well-organised team, but we are determined to get something from the game.

"We have got to make sure we go into this next period of games ensuring that we iron out those little errors."

Wasps are also in Challenge Cup action tomorrow, facing a testing Pool Three appointment with Bordeaux-Begles.

Rugby director David Young has called up Richard Haughton, Chris Mayor, Zak Taulafo and Tom Lindsay following last weekend's Premiership home defeat against Northampton, while centre Dom Waldouck continues his comeback from injury from the bench.

"Everybody wants to do well in Europe, and we are no different," Young said.

"We've had a look at Bordeaux and how they like to play. They have a very strong set-piece and the ability to do damage if they get time and space.

"We will have to get parity up-front to make sure we are in with a chance of getting an away win."

Tomorrow's other fixtures see Newport Gwent Dragons visiting Italian side Cavalieri Prato, Bayonne travelling to Rovigo and Agen tackling Spanish tournament newcomers La Vila.