Newcastle v Leicester: Teams

Newcastle's interim director of rugby has made six changers to the side for the Guinness Premiership clash with Leicester.

The Falcons bowed out of the European Challenge Cup to Worcester on Friday and now have little more than pride to play for in the league.

However they could still have a say in the play-off places, with the Tigers need to win to keep alive their outside hopes of making it into the top four.

The Falcons are without England centres Toby Flood and Jamie Noon, so Tim Visser and Tom Dillon team up in the midfield.

A shoulder injury rules out Mark Sorenson so Andy Buist moves up to the second row, allowing Geoff Parling to start on the flank.

In the front row Jon Golding gets the nod in the front row alongside hooker Andy Long.

On the bench Ross Beattie could make the first start to his second spell at the club, while scrum half Hall Charlton has recovered from a stomach injury to return to the 22

Massive

Leicester chief Marcelo Loffreda knows his side face "two massive games" if they are to sneak into the play-offs.

The Tigers currently lie in sixth spot, two points adrift of Harlequins. However victory over Newcastle could set up a crucial showdown with the Quins in the last league match of the season.

"We know exactly what we need to do in the last two games of the season," said Loffreda. "We will travel with a positive attitude but we know we will have to play very well.

"The players had a few extra days off last week when we did not have a game, but then we came back to prepare for the two massive games against Newcastle and Harlequins."

Loffreda has made two changes to his line up, with lock Marco Wentzel and hooker Benjamin Kayser both recalled.

Newcastle: 15 Mathew Tait, 14 Tom May, 13 Tom Dillon, 12 Tim Visser, 11 John Rudd, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 James Grindal, 1 Jon Golding, 2 Andy Long, 3 Carl Hayman, 4 Andy Perry, 5 Andy Buist, 6 Geoff Parling, 7 Ben Woods, 8 Phil Dowson (c).
Replacements: 16 Rob Vickers, 17 David Wilson, 18 Ross Beattie, 19 Russell Winter, 20 Ed Williamson, 21 Hall Charlton, 22 Ollie Phillips

Leicester: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Harry Ellis, 1 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 3 Julian White, 4 Marco Wentzel, 5 Ben Kay, 6 Martin Corry (c), 7 Tom Croft, 8 Jordan Crane.
Replacements: 16 Marcos Ayerza, 17 Mefin Davies, 18 Richard Blaze, 19 Brett Deacon, 20 Christophe Laussucq, 21 Sam Vesty, 22 Ayoola Erinle.