ROB Andrew has been putting on a brave face this week as well as playing mind games with Stade Francais by keeping them guessing about the state of Jonny Wilkinson's health.

The Newcastle Falcons boss predicts a high-scoring game against Stade Francais, comparing it with last season's Powergen Cup final, when a narrow win against Sale earned his side their place among Europe's elite.

In only their second crack at Europe's top competition they have done fantastically well to reach the quarter-finals, but privately Andrew must be deeply frustrated by the injuries which make today's match little more than a damage limitation exercise.

Six weeks ago the depleted Falcons lost 83-10 at Leicester and on their one previous trip to France in this season's Heineken Cup they lost 33-12 at Perpignan, who are not as strong as Stade Francais.

Given that they still have a wealth of talent in the backs, the doubt over Wilkinson is not the problem so much as the absence of experienced forwards.

The front row is the major area for concern following the back injuries suffered by the two props who started last Sunday's game against Bath, skipper Ian Peel and Galo Alvares Quinones.

The Argentinian was signed after a long search for a replacement for Marius Hurter, the 19st South African tight head who was built for occasions like these.

But on his first Premiership start Quinones lasted only until half-time in a match which ended with uncontested scrums after replacement Micky Ward also had to go off.

The fact that Ward and James Isaacson are the two props today at least adds to the local flavour of the side as one hails from Wallsend and the other from Easington. Then there's Stockton's Geoff Parling in the second row.

It will be a tremendous occasion for all of them, but it should be no surprise if it proves a little daunting, especially for 21-year-old Parling, whose only Premiership starts were at Leicester and against Bath last Sunday.

At least he can argue that he has already come up against Martin Johnson, Danny Grewcock and Steve Borthwick, so life can hardly get any tougher.

But he would be unlikely to be in the side if 6ft 9in American Luke Gross were fully fit - he is another of the walking wounded named among the replacements - or if injuries had not ruled out Craig Hamilton and Andy Buist for the rest of the season.

Flanker Mike McCarthy can also play at lock, but the options to replace him at No 6 are also limited by the injuries to Semo Sititi and Colin Charvis.

Although the former Wales captain could be on the bench, his failure to recover from a foot injury in time to play any part in the Six Nations has clearly been a bigger blow to the Falcons than to Wales. Given his form before the injury, he would have had a huge part to play today.

Instead the Falcons will have New Zealander Cory Harris making his debut at this level, and solid performer though he is his presence merely adds to the impression that the pack will be far too lightweight to compete effectively.

Andrew must shudder to think what will happen if one of the props is injured, and there must be every chance of that as Ward had to go off last week, when Isaacson was not in the squad because of a hamstring problem.

Peel is named among the replacements even though he isn't fit, while the other prop on the bench is David Wilson from South Shields, who is rated a huge talent but isn't 20 until next week.

The one consolation for the Falcons is that they have Matt Burke back after injury at full back, and he's still good enough to shine in the highest company.

Like the rest of the squad, Burke remains upbeat, saying: "The fans are excited about it and the coaches and players are excited about it, which is the way it should be because you have to enjoy these occasions when they come along.

"They know how to crank up the volume in France and to play in front of 45,000 people will be unbelievable.

"It's always tough playing in France. If their team start going forward you can feel the crowd making noise, so that's why we need our fans to be heard and I'm sure they will be."