DEAN RICHARDS is confident Newcastle Falcons’ first Aviva Premiership win of the season is just around the corner, but the director of rugby admits the decisive spell of the campaign is approaching fast.

Falcons are two points adrift of safety at the foot of the table after London Irish leap-frogged them courtesy of their first league victory on Boxing Day.

Richards’ side host Bath at Kingston Park tomorrow before travelling to London Irish a week on Sunday, and while they have lost six of their seven league games to date, their boss has seen signs of improvement in recent matches.

He remains confident there will be an upturn in results soon, and expects the period in February and March in which the Premiership runs in tandem with the Six Nations to prove crucial in terms of determining the final standings.

“The boys are playing some good rugby, we are getting into our groove and the thing now is to go out there and get that win,” said Richards. “That first win is important.

“These next two games fall into that category (of games they can win), but our season will be determined by the period after the European break.

“It is that run of ten Premiership games back to back which will be critical to almost every side, whether they are at the top of the bottom.

“They are both big games – Bath at home and London Irish away next weekend. Everyone will look at next Sunday and say it’s the decider or one of the big games of the season, but the big period will come during that ten-week block which coincides with the Six Nations, and you’re playing Premiership week after week after week.

“It will be a killer. It will be brutal for a lot of sides, and it is such an important stretch of games.”

Richards has made one change to his side for tomorrow’s game, with Argentinian Juan Pablo Socino replacing his compatriot, Belisario Agulla, at inside centre.

Craig Willis retains the fly-half jersey, with former England international Andy Goode not named in the squad after Falcons brought him out of retirement at the start of the week.

“The boys are keen,” said Richards. “They are looking forward to it, and they know Bath is going to be a hard game.

“Bath have a similar squad to the likes of Saracens and Leicester in that whoever they bring off the bench is always going to be a similar quality player.

“These kind of sides are looking good when they bring on their replacements, but that’s life, and that’s what you aspire to. I think it’s going to be an interesting game.”

Newcastle Falcons: Hammersley, Tait, Harris, Socino, Watson, Willis, Young; Vickers, McGuigan, Welsh, M Wilson, Robinson, Hogg, Welch, Latu.

Replacements: Lawson, Rogers, Ryan, Botha, Clever, Takulua, Catterick, Agulla.