Wasps v Newcastle: Teams

Wasps have made eight changes in personnel and one positional switch following the defeat to Bath in midweek.

Josh Lewsey returns to partner Dominic Waldouck in the centres with no place for Riki Flutey, while fellow England international Paul Sackey takes over on the wing after recovering from injury.

Mark Robinson starts at scrum-half with Joe Simpson reverting to the bench, while stand-off Danny Cipriani is available after originally being named as part of the England Saxons squad.

Director of rugby Ian McGeechan shuffles the pack with flankers James Haskell and Tom Rees replacing Joe Worsley and Serge Betsen, while in the front row hooker Rob Webber starts in place of Joe Ward and Pat Barnard returns from injury to partner Tim Payne.

George Skivington will partner Simon Shaw at lock with Richard Birkett taking a seat on the bench.

Falcons changes

Newcastle make four changes to the side that defeated Leicester at the weekend, with Adam Balding returning at number eight.

Captain Phil Dowson will revert to blindside flanker with Tim Swinson moving up to lock as Geoff Parling is relegated to the bench.

In the front row Micky Ward packs down at loosehead prop with Jon Golding missing out due to an ankle injury, while Rob Vickers returns at hooker for Matt Thompson.

The only change in the backs sees Micky Young back in at scrum-half for Hall Charlton, and director of rugby Steve Bates is keen not to tamper too much with a winning formula.

"Adam Balding's return will be a big boost for us, because he has been playing some fantastic rugby these past few months," said Bates.

"Not only does he get us over the gain line, but he has been linking up and offloading well. A back row consisting of Adam, Phil Dowson and Brent Wilson gives us great balance and a bit of everything, so I'm looking forward to seeing them working together again as a combination.

"In the front row Jon Golding will need a couple of weeks rest after rolling his ankle against Leicester, but in Micky Ward and Davey Wilson we have two quality replacements on hand, ready to play their part."

London Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Dominic Waldouck, 12 Josh Lewsey, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Mark Robinson, 8 John Hart, 7 Tom Rees (capt), 6 James Haskell, 5 George Skivington, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Pat Barnard, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Tim Payne.

Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Charlie Beech, 18 Richard Birkett, 19 Joe Worsley, 20 Joe Simpson, 21 Lachlan Mitchell, 22 Jeremy Staunton.

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Tim Visser, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 11 John Rudd, 10 Tom May, 9 Micky Young, 8 Adam Balding, 7 Brent Wilson, 6 Phil Dowson (capt), 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Rob Vickers, 1 Micky Ward.

Replacements: 16 Matt Thompson, 17 David Wilson, 18 Geoff Parling, 19 Russell Winter, 20 Hall Charlton, 21 Rob Miller, 22 Steve Jones.