AFTER the farcical postponement of their trip across the English Channel last weekend, head coach Alan Tait is ready to name a full strength Newcastle Falcons team as they aim to secure a last four LV= Cup place.

After leaving a number of top players behind for last Saturday’s ill-fated trip to Bourgoin, which fell foul of the freezing temperatures in southern France, Tait is desperate to see a positive response at Bath.

Luke Fielden, Tane Tu’ipulotu, Gcobani Bobo, Jimmy Gopperth, Micky Young, Tim Swinson and Will Welch have all been handed their place back in the team.

Tait knows the Falcons must finish top of their group to qualify for the semi-finals of the LV= Cup, and winning the tournament looks certain to be the only way they will qualify for the Heineken Cup.

And Tait, knowing the significance of the tournament is on the increase, is out to see a repeat of the four-try 26-17 victory on their last visit to Bath last season.

“Our theory in the past was to use this tournament to give squad players a run, but with the guys coming back from injury this weekend it gives the team a stronger look,” said Tait.

Tait will hand giant Kiwi lock Andrew van der Heijden a place amongst the replacements at the Recreation Ground as he looks to finally give his Falcons career lift-off.

Van der Heijden has made a full recovery from the broken arm sustained shortly after signing a two-year deal at Kingston Park. And the 26- year-old is happy to be back and looking forward to making an impact during his time in the North-East.

“It’s been a long time and I’ve been raring to go for two months now,” said van der Heijden. “Hopefully I can make a big impact when I get on.”

The Falcons have also named Scotland international Euan Murray in the front row for the trip to the West Country, while Ally Hogg and Swinson are welcomed back to the pack.

There is also a place in the back row for Cumbrian Mark Wilson and hooker Rob Vickers will return to action and included on the bench.

FALCONS: Tait, Fielden, Eves, Tu’ipulotu, Bobo, Gopperth, Young; Golding, Thompson, Murray, Hudson (captain), Swinson, Wilson, Welch, Hogg. Replacements: Vickers, Shiells, Hall, van der Heijden, Williamson, Pilgrim, Fitzpatrick, Hodgson.