Newcastle Falcons have made six changes to their side as they prepare for Friday's Guinness Premiership visit of Saracens to Kingston Park (kick-off 8pm).

The Falcons are gunning for their seventh home win in a row after going four months unbeaten in the north-east.

But they will have to do so without captain Matthew Burke who misses out with a groin injury, meaning All Black prop Joe McDonnell skippers the side.

The pack has been boosted by the return of form openside Ben Woods after knee trouble ruled him out of last Saturday's trip to London Irish, while the forwards are otherwise unchanged from the eight which took the field at the Madejski Stadium.

Behind the scrum England call-ups account for the absence of Mathew Tait and Toby Flood, while Jonny Wilkinson would have been away on international duty had hamstring trouble not ruled him out for the weekend.

The Falcons can bank on quality cover in the three-quarters, however, as All Black Mark Mayerhofler, fly half Loki Crichton and powerhouse winger John Rudd all come back in to the starting XV. The only other two changes are at scrum half and fullback, with Lee Dickson and Joe Shaw taking the field respectively.

Tickets for the game are still available by calling 0871 226 60 60, or popping to Kingston Park during office hours and on the night.

Newcastle Falcons team to face Saracens:

15 Joe Shaw
14 Tom May
13 Jamie Noon
12 Mark Mayerhofler
11 John Rudd
10 Loki Crichton
9 Lee Dickson

1 Joe McDonnell (captain)
2 Matt Thompson
3 Micky Ward
4 Mark Sorenson
5 Jason Oakes
6 Geoff Parling
7 Ben Woods
8 Russell Winter

Replacements:

Jon Golding
Andy Long
Andy Buist
Brent Wilson
Tom Dillon
James Grindal
Ollie Phillips