NEWCASTLE Falcons will not alter their attacking style when they step into the Tigers' lair at Welford Road today.

Both clubs have lost two of their first three Premiership matches and Leicester will be desperate to appease their loyal fans with a victory.

But Falcons' boss Rob Andrew is determined to pursue the adventurous style of rugby on which he wants to build the club's reputation.

It has so far produced only two tries this season, one of them a late barnstorming effort from Epi Taione last Sunday, which seemed to have earned a draw against Gloucester until Henry Paul landed a penalty at the death.

Andrew has been saying for two years that opponents counter his team's strengths by slowing down release of the ball, and he keeps calling for stricter refereeing at the breakdown.

But he will not change his ways, saying: "The way we play is exciting for the fans and for the players. That's the way this club is going to play and we have to have the confidence to do it at Leicester."

One of his most exciting players, winger Michael Stephenson, returns after missing the Gloucester game with a shoulder injury suffered during England training.

Andrew will be hoping there are no such mishaps when lock Stuart Grimes and hooker Steve Brotherstone attend a get-together of Scotland's World Cup squad on Monday.

If the Falcons lose again today it will become doubly important that they win at home to Leeds next Sunday after completing a double against the Tykes last season.

The Falcons meet Grenoble in the first round of the Parker Pen European Challenge Cup, with the first leg in France on October 12 and the home tie the following Sunday.

Grenoble, newly-promoted to division one of the French Championship, have already beaten Biarritz and lost only 9-3 to Stade Francais.

Darlington will start with two sets of brothers in their Powergen Cup tie at New Brighton today, with hooker Dan Osleton joining elder brother Joe in the front row as Rob Goddard is getting married.

With both sides favouring adventurous rugby, Paul and Craig Lee will have a big role to play in launching Darlington's attacks while bottling up the home midfield.

Paul Radford is unavailable, so Del Lewis switches to lock with Bryan Dixon coming in at No 8, while among the seven allowed on the bench are ex-colts Lee Hoggett and Rick Taylor, plus veteran hooker Brian Baldwin.

New Brighton looked a good side in winning 28-11 at Darlington Mowden Park last week, and Mowden have the better chance of ensuring the town is represented in the second round as they have a home tie against Preston Grasshoppers.

Only three clubs have better than a 75 per cent record in the national cup - Leicester, Bath and Mowden, who have had a good run in each of the last three seasons.

Mowden try Tongan Kelekolia Paino at centre alongside Scott Thompson, with Mark Bedworth reverting to full back.

Paino scored two tries from the back row on his debut two weeks ago but missed the New Brighton defeat through injury, and this time his Tongan colleague Vahanoa Faleovalu is ruled out. His place at blind side goes to former Blaydon player Jon Dye.

Blaydon have relegated new Welsh signing Jason Davies to the bench for their cup tie at Bedford Athletic.

James Lofthouse, who could travel back from London to play when he starts work there shortly, continues at fly half and former Mowden player Kevin McCallum comes in at full back.

Tynedale are without Andrew Murray and ex-Newcastle Falcons flanker Jimmy Cartmell for the visit of Hull Ionians.

It's also the first round of the Powergen Intermediate Cup, in which Stockton visit Westoe and Acklam entertain Horden, who they have already met twice in this competition, with both sides winning one game each.

Middlesbrough are at home to Morpeth in a rearranged North Two East match, both teams having been knocked out of the Powergen Cup by Macclesfield.