NEWCASTLE FALCONS have been urged to take advantage of Saracens’ international drop-outs when they travel to Allianz Park to take on the Aviva Premiership high-fliers tomorrow.

With the Six Nations resuming this weekend, Sarries will be without England players George Kruis, Alex Goode, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vuniplola and Richard Wigglesworth.

Falcons, on the other hand, are only deprived of Italy international Josh Furno and England replacement Kieran Brookes, and while it is 11 matches since Dean Richards’ side tasted victory over Saracens, they might not have many better chances to end that sequence than the one that will present itself tomorrow.

“I am not going to bang on about the fact that this is a golden opportunity because we have said that before and been taken to the cleaners,” said head coach John Wells. “But I think the guys realise Saracens will be short of some of their big ball-carriers.

“If we can get on top and get that front-foot ball, then some of our attacking work this year has been exceptional. If we get enough opportunities to impose our style of game onto them, we will cause them a lot of problems.”

Falcons’ last outing was a 23-23 home draw with London Wasps, but while their form in the last two or three months has been reasonably strong, Wells claims it would be dangerous to underestimate Saracens despite their enforced alterations.

“Saracens are the epitome of a professional outfit and have grown their side slowly,” he added. “They’ve spent a lot of money, but they’ve bought well and put a game plan in place, and that plan has not really changed a great deal over the past five years.

“As a result of that consistency, they have players who have been there a long time and know what they are going, almost irrespective of which team they select.”

Falcons have made five changes to the side that drew with Wasps, with Gonzalo Tiesi returning to the backline and Alex Tait switching to full-back.

Juan Pablo Orlandi and Kane Thompson come into the front five, which also sees Scott Lawson replacing Rob Hawkins at hooker. Andy Saull steps into the openside flank position, with Ally Hogg unavailable because of a hamstring strain sustained last weekend.

Newcastle Falcons: Tait, Sinoti, Powell, Socino, Tiesi, Catterick, Blair; Vickers, Lawson, Orlandi, Thompson, Barrow, Welch, Saull, M Wilson.

Replacements: Hawkins, Rogers, Irving, Green, York, Tipuna, Clegg, Alex Tuilagi.