NEWCASTLE Falcons are aiming to cement their quarter- final place in the European Challenge Cup when they face Spanish side Cetransa El Salvador in Valladolid tomorrow.

With league action considered a priority, Falcons lock Tim Swinson insists that his side will not be taking their foot off the gas against the reigning Spanish Champions.

The 21-year-old said: “Every game matters, no matter what competition it’s in. Obviously the Guinness Premiership is extremely important, but this week we’re playing El Salvador and our attention is totally geared towards the goals we have set for that game.

“We want to go over there and win with a bonus point.

They’re the champions of their country, it’s their third or fourth season in Europe and they’re improving every year.

“If we don’t give them the appropriate level of respect then we’ll end up with egg on our faces.”

Falcons are keen to continue their recent improvement after a confidence-boosting victory over Gloucester and a narrow defeat to Brive.

Swinston added: “We’re starting to link up better as a team in the past few weeks, the younger guys are getting more involved in mixing with the senior players and there’s a really good atmosphere surrounding what we are doing.

“I’m learning every day from the senior players, especially in the line out where Mark Sorenson and Andy Perry have taken a lot of time to help me, mainly with some of the technical aspects which at a lower level wouldn’t make much difference.

“Operating at Premiership and European standard though those little things are absolutely vital, and it can mean winning or losing.”