DEAN RICHARDS is heading to Harlequins tomorrow, despite being in the middle of a match-day ban that means he can have no involvement in Newcastle Falcons’ showdown with the reigning Gallagher Premiership champions.

Richards was handed a three-game touchline ban after he was deemed to have criticised the officials in the wake of his side’s recent narrow defeat to Exeter Chiefs.

Last weekend, as Falcons were edged out by Bath, he watched on from amongst the Falcons fans on the South Stand at Kingston Park.

He cannot have any contact with his players during tomorrow’s game with Harlequins, but plans to be in attendance once again at Twickenham Stoop.

“Dean watched our home game last weekend from the terracing on the South Stand with the supporters, and I think he quite enjoyed getting a different perspective on it,” said Richards’ stand-in, head coach Dave Walder.

“He obviously wasn’t in and around the team or the staff on the day, and although he isn’t travelling down to Harlequins with the squad this week, I’m sure he will be in the ground somewhere, watching on.”

Centre Pete Lucock comes into the starting line-up for tomorrow’s game in place of Matias Orlando, who is unavailable because of a head knock sustained against Bath, while injuries to back-rowers Connor Collett and Gary Graham see a reshuffled pack in which Sean Robinson slides back to blind-side flanker, with academy graduates Rob Farrar and Tom Marshall added to the starting XV.

Former Scotland Under-20s cap Marshall is making his first Premiership start, with ex-England Under-20s lock Farrar starting for the third time in top-flight league action.

Newcastle’s depth in the back five of the pack has been tested with the suspension of Callum Chick, the retirement of Mark Wilson and the unavailability through injury of Will Welch, Carl Fearns, Philip van der Walt, Collett, Graham and Marco Fuser.

On the bench, there could be a Premiership debut for 22-year-old back-rower Freddie Lockwood, whose only other senior appearance came as a late replacement during last season’s European Challenge Cup victory at Castres.

Lockwood has spent much of this season on dual-registration with National One side Darlington Mowden Park, and forms part of a Falcons match-day 23 which includes 21 English-qualified players, 15 of whom have been involved with the club’s academy.

“Harlequins are great to watch and they challenge you across the pitch,” said Walder. “So, it’s a great test for our lads. Everybody outside of these four walls has probably written us off, and in that sense it’s a great opportunity to go down there and spring a surprise.

“We’ve got guys coming in who have been waiting for their chance and been desperate to play, so we’re excited about what they can do. It’ll be a full house down there, we’re looking forward to the whole atmosphere and the chance to shock a few people.”