NEWCASTLE Falcons captain Matt Burke returns for tonight's Guinness Premiership trip to bottom club Worcester after turning down a chance to resume his international career.

The full back has ended speculation about a possible return to Australia to be part of the Wallabies' 2007 campaign.

Burke advised the Australian Rugby Union yesterday that he appreciated receiving an approach from Wallabies coach John Connolly to consider making himself available after a three-year absence from the national team.

"I thought this through in considerable detail," said Burke, who played his 81st and final Test against South Africa in 2004.

"The proposal put to me was for me to return and be part of the Wallabies' domestic Tests starting in May. The honour and appeal of wearing a Wallaby jersey again was strong but I had to weigh this up with my family responsibilities and my commitments to my club, who have given me enormous support in the past three years."

Burke said a comment by NSW Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie about the ARU "recruiting a superannuation crew playing in Europe" revealed "McKenzie's total ignorance of British club rugby".

"I didn't come here for superannuation. I came here to play top-level club rugby after being told by McKenzie that I wasn't wanted at the Waratahs," said Burke. "Everything has turned out well for me in the past three years. I'm enjoying my rugby enormously and being made captain this year has given me an additional challenge".

Burke missed last Friday's victory over Saracens with a groin injury, but returns in place of Joe Shaw, while James Hoyle comes in at centre for Jamie Noon, who is on the England bench tomorrow.

The only other change sees Brent Wilson come in at No.8 for Russell Winter, who has a hamstring injury.

A third successive win for Worcester would lift them off the bottom and with a four-try bonus point they could be only four points behind Newcastle with four games left. But the Falcons would still be eight points ahead of Northampton.

Director of Rugby John Fletcher said: "The match is huge for both clubs, and there will be a big atmosphere with a full house down there so we have to be prepared for that.

"Worcester are in a decent run of form and playing good rugby. Their league position doesn't do justice to the quality they have in their squad, and we are not underestimating them.

"I'm massively proud of having Jamie Noon, Mathew Tait and Toby Flood in the England squad, but it has made our team selection difficult having so many inside backs away, plus Jonny Wilkinson out injured.

"But James Hoyle is a quality player and started in our only Premiership away win of the season, scoring a try at Sale."

Fletcher also praised Burke for the way he has handled the approach from Australia, saying: "As soon as the initial approach was made he informed myself and our chairman.

"He was adamant that an early decision would be made to allow us sufficient time to draft in a replacement if he was going to the World Cup. He let us know exactly what was happening at every stage."

Newcastle Falcons: Matthew Burke (captain), Tom May, James Hoyle, Mark Mayerhofler, John Rudd, Loki Crichton, Lee Dickson, Joe McDonnell, Matt Thompson, Micky Ward, Mark Sorenson, Jason Oakes, Geoff Parling, Ben Woods, Brent Wilson

Darlington skipper Richard Snowball and winger Tim Visser, who has been loaned to Mowden Park, were among the three players mentioned by John Fletcher after the Newcastle Development XV's 20-19 defeat away to Edinburgh on Wednesday.

"Cory Harris captained the side well from open side and was the outstanding forward on the night, closely followed by Richard Snowball," said Fletcher. "He acquitted himself well in his first game for the club and Tim Visser was the pick of the backs."