Harlequins v Newcastle: Teams

Harlequins will want nothing less than a win on Saturday over the Falcons as they look to secure a top four finish.

Victory over their northern rivals would seal a play-off spot for Quins who are currently second in the Guinness Premiership table.

Quins' starting line-up has four changes from the side that lost against Sale last week.

Mike Brown returns at full-back, which means utility back Tom Williams moves on to the wing in place of the injured David Strettle.

Jordan Turner-Hall climbs off the bench to partner Gonzalo Tiesi at centre at the expense of De Wet Barry, who drops to the bench.

Gomarsall benched

Danny Care is back in at number nine in a switch with fellow England scrum-half Andy Gomarsall.

Injured hooker Gary Botha misses out and is replaced by Tani Fuga with Chris Brooker providing cover.

Quins have slipped to successive defeats to Leinster and Sale, but have not lost at home in the Premiership since London Irish won there, 28-27, at the end of September.

Newcastle Falcons have made just one change for their final long trip of the season to face Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop.

Phil Dowson skippers the Falcons in his final outing for the club, in a side which sees Matt Thompson come in for Rob Vickers at hooker.

The back line is unchanged from that which started last weekend against Bath, as scrum-half Micky Young recovers from the arm injury that forced him from the field during the one-point defeat.

"There were a number of positives from our first-half performance last week, which we look to build on, and also a number of areas identified for improvement," said director of rugby Steve Bates.

"Micky Young had an excellent game and has recovered from a knock to his arm, which is a boost for us with the way he really drove the pace."

Asked if Harlequins had more to play for with Newcastle's league position already having been decided, Bates refused to agree with the assumption.

Attitude spot-on

"Not at all," he said. "These guys are all proud people, and even though they might not have any silverware to play for, they are still playing for each other and representing the club in front of our travelling supporters.

"The attitude in training has been spot-on during the week, the focus has still been there and obviously with some guys playing their last games for the club the motivation is there to really sign off in style in front of our away fans.

"Playing a quality side like Harlequins is challenge enough in itself, but having beaten them just a few weeks ago up at Kingston Park the boys are all keen to go for the double.

"We know that will not be easy against a team with so many threats right around the park, but we're excited by the challenge and really looking to end the season on a high."

The Falcons have lost three games in a row in all competitions since their 14-10 victory over Leicester at Kingston Park on March 27, though, and have not won away from home since their visit to Sale on March 8.

They are going for a first season's double over the Quins since 1997/98.

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Tom Williams, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Waisea Luveniyali, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Will Skinner (c), 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 George Robson, 4 James Percival, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Tani Fuga, 1 Ceri Jones
Replacements: 16 Chris Brooker, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Jim Evans, 19 Tom Guest, 20 Andy Gomarsall, 21 De Wet Barry 22 Seb Stegmann

Newcastle: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Danny Williams, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 11 John Rudd, 10 Tom May, 9 Micky Young, 8 Adam Balding, 7 Phil Dowson (capt), 6 Russell Winter, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 David Wilson, 2 Matt Thompson, 1 Micky Ward.
Replacements: 16 Andy Long, 17 Johnny Williams, 18 Geoff Parling, 19 Ross Beattie, 20 Hall Charlton, 21 Steve Jones, 22 Rob Miller.