Mike Brown is congratulated after his try in last weekend's Heineken Cup win at Kingsholm © Getty Images

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Matches: Harlequins 39 - 8 Newcastle Falcons

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: England | Harlequins | Newcastle Falcons

It's top against bottom in the Aviva Premiership as high-flying Harlequins welcome Newcastle Falcons to the Stoop on Sunday for what, on the face of it, looks like a mismatch.

Quins have been the revelation of the season so far, with Conor O'Shea's having won their opening 12 games of the season in all competitions. The runaway league leaders have had a couple of scares along the way, most notably at Worcester, but they have looked a cut above nearly every side that has had the misfortune to come across their path this term.

So what hope have Newcastle got of ending Quins' remarkable winning run. Very little, in truth. The Falcons have managed just one victory in the Premiership to date and we're lucky to have scraped a draw at home to Worcester last time out. It could be a long afternoon for Newcastle.

Harlequins - Player to Watch: Danny Care is back in the domestic mix after recovering from injury and starts for the first time this season. With Ben Youngs making an impressive showing last weekend, Care will aim to prove that he is still the man for whoever takes charge of the England side.

Harlequins - Team News: Danny Care will make his first start for Harlequins this season in a side that is virtually unchanged from the one that beat Gloucester in round two of the Heineken Cup last weekend. Due to a finger injury to Karl Dickson, ruling the scrum half out until the New Year period, Care will start with Richard Bolt being promoted to the bench. Joe Gray and Chris Brooker rotate positions in the squad, as Brooker starts in the number two shirt, with Gray as cover for Sunday's round nine fixture

Newcastle Falcons - Player to Watch: Tonga World Cup star Suka Hufanga starts on the wing for Newcastle and after his scoring exploits against France, will look to breathe new life into the faltering Falcons.

Newcastle Falcons - Team News: Jeremy Manning moves from fly-half to replace Greg Goosen at full-back, James Fitzpatrick, who is continuing his comeback from injury, replaces Luke Eves at inside centre, while new signing Suka Hufanga starts his first game for the North East club on the left wing. A change in the half backs sees scrum-half Chris Pilgrim return to the no.9 jersey partnering Jimmy Gopperth at fly-half. In the forward pack James Hall replaces Euan Murray at tighthead prop whilst a shuffle of the back row sees Ally Hogg move to the flank allowing Taiasina Tuifua to make his eagerly anticipated debut at Number 8.

Key Battle: It's the battle of the Kiwi fly-halves with Gopperth facing up against Nick Evans. Evans has been the stand-out player of the Premiership season thus far and Gopperth will face a mission to put his fellow countryman under pressure.

Trivia: The Falcons have not won away from home in the Premiership since triumphing at Leeds in February

Stats: Harlequins' Mike Brown has scored four tries in eight Premiership appearances this season

Quote Unquote:

"We feel we are the start of a journey, not even midway through it. I will get a huge amount of pleasure if we are successful and we see a lot of guys go on to represent England. I want to be at Harlequins, and I am going to be at Harlequins"
- Quins boss Conor O'Shea rules out the England job

"Quins are doing very well this term with their unbeaten start and it's an achievement you have to respect. However we can't let that overawe us. We will focus on our own game and on giving a good account of ourselves on Sunday "
- Newcastle boss Alan Tait hopes for a return to winning ways at the Stoop.

Prediction: Harlequins are unbeaten and will continue their winning run with a bonus point win over the Falcons.