Newcastle v Leeds: Teams
All Blacks centre Mark Mayerhofler returns for the Falcons, however winless Leeds are missing 12 first-team players.
Last Updated: 04/10/07 2:58pm
Newcastle Falcons make two changes for their clash against Leeds Carnegie at Kingston Park on Friday night.
All Blacks centre Mark Mayerhofler is fit again after a broken hand, with Tom Dillon making way, and David Wilson takes the place of Micky Ward at tight head prop.
The Falcons, unbeaten at home this season, are without Andy Buist, who needs a shoulder operation and will be out for at least two months.
Leeds Carnegie are without 12 first-team players through injury or unavailability as they prepare to face the Falcons.
Leigh Hinton will start at full back in place of Richard Welding, who has been unable to train all week due to illness.
Focus
Fijian Appo Satala is on the bench after agreeing a one-year contract following a one-month trial with the club.
Leeds director of rugby Stuart Lancaster told the club's official website: "In order to win games at the top level you need to be getting a high percentage of your technical decision making and individual skill execution correct.
"Our percentage is not high enough and the focus in training has been on fixing up those key areas.
"We are in a challenging place at the moment and injuries to key personnel currently are not helping."
Newcastle: 15 Matthew Burke, 14 Tom May, 13 Mark Mayerhofler, 12 Joe Shaw, 11 John Rudd, 10 Steve Jones, 9 Lee Dickson; 1 Joe McDonnell, 2 Andy Long, 3 David Wilson, 4 Jason Oakes, 5 Mark Sorenson, 6 Geoff Parling, 7 Phil Dowson (captain), 8 Russell Winter.
Replacements: 16 Matt Thompson, 17 Jon Golding, 18 Andy Perry, 19 Brent Wilson, 20 James Grindal, 21 Adam Dehaty, 22 Ollie Phillips.
Leeds: 15 Leigh Hinton, 14 John Holtby, 13 Tom Rock, 12 Lee Blackett, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Richard Vasey, 9 Joe Bedford; 1 Tommy McGee, 2 Vili Ma'asi, 3 Colin Noon, 4 Erik Lund, 5 Stuart Hooper (captain), 6 Rhys Oakley, 7 Calum Clark, 8 Mark Lock.
Replacements: 16 Michael Cusack, 17 James Parkes, 18 Pablo Bouza, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Mike Aspinall, 21 Appo Satala, 22 Jon Goodridge.