Danny Cipriani will bid farewell to Wasps © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Matches: Newcastle Falcons 21 - 25 Wasps

Tournaments/Tours: Guinness Premiership

Teams: England | Newcastle Falcons | Wasps

There will be plenty of fingers crossed at Kingston Park on Saturday as the Wasps faithful hope for an away win over Newcastle and a possible slot in the play-offs.

The former masters of knockout rugby need results to go their way as Bath take on Leeds and London Irish look to turn over Northampton, while they cannot underestimate a Falcons side who will be powered by talismanic skipper Carl Hayman for the last time. The former All Black tight-head will jet off to Toulon at the end of the season, while Wasps will also bid farewell to a favourite son as Danny Cipriani prepares to leave for Melbourne and the Rebels.

Cipriani has been unable to oust Dave Walder at fly-half following last weekend's European Challenge Cup semi-final loss to Cardiff, instead taking the place of Mark van Gisbergen at fullback. There is also a change on the wing as Tom Varndell is drafted in ahead of David Lemi. Both van Gisbergen and Lemi have been named on the bench. England forwards Simon Shaw (illness) and Joe Worsley (haematoma) are absent from the pack, with Dan Ward-Smith moving into the second-row and Serge Betsen and John Hart plugging the gaps in the loose trio.

The Falcons have had a difficult week with the departure of director of rugby Steve Bates, with former assistant Alan Tait taking over the reins. He has kept the impressive halfback pairing of Micky Young and Jimmy Gopperth intact, with Danny Williams and Rob Vickerman earning starts on the wing and in the centre respectively. Micky Ward starts at loose head in place of Grant Shiells.

"The league has shown itself to be more competitive than ever and there have been a number of teams that have been in that 'box seat' for the last semi final place over the last few weeks," Wasps boss Tony Hanks said. "We know more than anyone else that Leeds are a side that should not be underestimated so there is still a lot to play for and our focus is the win at Newcastle.

"Both Simon Shaw and Joe Worsley are top quality international players and hugely valuable squad members to lose. They are disappointed not to be able to take to the pitch, especially given the stage in the season and on the back of the Cardiff game, but this squad has overcome the impact of injuries throughout the season and they are very focused on the challenge ahead."

Newcastle: Alex Tait; Danny Williams, Rob Vickerman, Tane Tu'ipulotu, Gcobani Bobo; Jimmy Gopperth, Micky Young; Micky Ward, Rob Vickers, Carl Hayman (capt), James Hudson, Tim Swinson, Filipo Levi, Brent Wilson, Josh Afu

Replacements: Matt Thompson, Kieran Brookes, Grant Shiells, Mark Sorenson, Will Welch, Hall Charlton, Tom Catterick, Spencer Davey

Wasps: Danny Cipriani; Paul Sackey, Ben Jacobs, Dom Waldouck, Tom Varndell; Dave Walder, Joe Simpson; Tim Payne, Rob Webber, Phil Vickery, Dan Ward-Smith, George Skivington, Serge Betsen, Tom Rees (capt), John Hart

Replacements: Tom Lindsay, Zak Taulafo, Ben Broster, Dan Leo, Will Matthews, James Honeyben, David Lemi, Mark Van Gisbergen