NEWCASTLE Falcons welcome back England duo Mathew Tait and Toby Flood for tomorrow's EDF Energy Cup clash against NEC Harlequins at Kingston Park (2.30pm) as well as giving a debut to Kiwi lock Mark Sorenson.

Another New Zealander, prop Joe McDonnell, captains the team on his home debut as regular skipper Matthew Burke is given a break with Loki Crichton switching to full back as Flood slots in at fly half.

Jamie Noon is resting after playing throughout England's autumn series, so Joe Shaw replaces calf injury victim Mark Mayerhofler at inside centre.

Tim Visser and Anthony Elliott replace John Rudd and Tom May on the wings, while Micky Ward is back from injury at tight head prop and is one of only three locals in the pack, along with Matt Thompson and Jason Oakes.

The rest are from the southern hemisphere with a new-look back row featuring Brent Wilson, who replaces concussion victim Geoff Parling, Cory Harris and South African Russell Winter.

Flanker Eni Gesinde is on the bench after a successful return from knee trouble in Monday's Development XV win at Sale Sharks.

After beating Llanelli and losing to Sale, Newcastle need to win and pick up a four-try bonus point to be in with a shout of qualification for the semi-finals. Even then they would need Llanelli to win at Sale with neither side earning a bonus point.

But the Falcons are taking the match very seriously, with forwards coach Peter Walton saying: "This is a massive game for us.

"We've sorted a few things out following Saturday's loss at Bath and some of the consistency issues we've been having, and there were a few home truths when we sat down this week.

"We've picked a side which we feel can do the job. We want to have a look at the new signings, so all four will start the game, and we also have a few guys coming back from injury who are keen to have a run, like Cory Harris, Tim Visser and Micky Ward.

"Sale have a lot of injuries and we beat their academy side on Monday night, so it will be interesting to see what sort of team they field. Llanelli will certainly take it seriously, and so the group is very much alive."

Both Darlington Mowden Park and Tynedale will have players away at the Dubai Sevens when they meet at Yiewsley Drive.

Mowden will be without goal-kicking full back Anthony Mellalieu and centre Gareth Kerr, but the pacy Michael Breen will slot in at centre and also take on the kicking role.

It is hoped Peter Phelan, who has had an appendix operation, will be fit to resume on the wing with Iain Dixon switching to full back while his brother, Andrew, gets his first start as hooker Shaun Buckley has a calf injury.

Darlington are to appeal against Dan Miller's eight-week ban following his sending off in the cup tie at Altrincham Kersal.

He is free to play pending the appeal, and against a strong visiting pack from Macclesfield the club might decide they need him as Paul Shepherd will be out until Christmas following a nose operation.

If Miller is left out Lee Hoggart will make his first start and if he failed to last the distance one option would be to switch hooker Dan Oselton to prop.

Dan Earl has impressed in training, so he gets a chance on the wing with Frankie Coulson at full back and Lee Richardson on the bench.

After topping 80 points at Redcar last week, Billingham hope to continue their impressive run at home to Ryton and have Paul Dalton back at lock, while Steve Hutchinson reverts to the back row.

Stockton's hopes of building on their encouraging win against Sunderland have been hit by Mark Skirving's wedding clashing with the trip to Alnwick. Three other players are unavailable, so Brett Wildridge switches to lock, with Paul Mallory coming into the back row, while Dan Muirhead, Tom Jeffery and Peter Armstrong return.