NEWCASTLE Falcons have the chance to move up to second place in the Premiership tonight when they visit Reading's Madejski Stadium to play London Irish.

They also face the Irish at Kingston Park on Sunday in the quarter-finals of the Tetley's Bitter Cup, when Jonny Wilkinson is expected to return.

The England fly half will sit out tonight's match, which is being televised live on Sky at 8pm.

Wilkinson was one of five England players to receive cuts around the face in Saturday's match against South Africa, but in any case the Falcons had planned to rest him tonight after his three weeks with England.

David Walder, who scored all 32 points in Newcastle's last match against Saracens, will again deputise in an otherwise full-strength line-up.

The Falcons are currently fifth with a game in hand on the teams above them, and with only three points covering six clubs below leaders Leicester there is going to be an intense scrap for European places.

London Irish boss Dick Best, the former England coach, said: "We've been watching videos of Newcastle all week, so we know what they're about.

''They had a poor season last year with some financial hardship, but they've got new owners and they've been able to spend some money on the side.

''They are definitely one of the four sides in with a chance of winning the Premiership.''

Newcastle could face a problem if they win on Sunday and are drawn at home in the semi-finals of the cup.

It has been decided that grounds must have a minimum capacity of 8,000 in order to stage semi-finals, and Kingston Park currently holds 7,200.

The ruling also affects Sale, who seem certain to reach the last four as they play Waterloo in the quarter-finals.

While one possibility for Newcastle is to use a football ground, they would first look at the possibility of extending their capacity, with safety being the prime consideration.

The home match against Bristol, scheduled for Boxing Day, has been put back to December 27 (2.30) at the visitors' request.

l Northern might have to forfeit their North Division One match at Macclesfield, which they failed to fulfil for a second time on Saturday.

A lack of front row forwards was again the reason given for pulling out of a match originally scheduled for October 28.