Newcastle v Bath: Teams

Director of Rugby Steve Bates has made three changes to his Newcastle side for their final home game against Bath on Sunday.

In the forwards Rob Vickers replaces Matt Thompson at hooker, while Tim Swinson takes the place of Geoff Parling in the second row.

The only other change to the side that lost to Saracens in last weekend's Challenge Cup quarter-final is on the wing where Tim Visser starts for John Rudd.

The Falcons are looking look to make it five successive domestic home victories and Bates said: "Everybody at the club wants to finish the season on a high in front of our home supporters.

"And for the players there will be an element of revenge, with Bath having ended our six-match unbeaten run in recent weeks.

Play-off battle

For Bath Joe Maddock starts at full-back in place of Nick Abendanon, who suffered a shoulder injury against Leicester last weekend.

David Barnes, Shaun Berne and Chris Goodman are rested while Alex Crockett, who sustained a rib injury last Saturday, is replaced by Tom Cheeseman.

Forwards coach Mark Bakewell is looking ahead to the impending play-off battle and victory on Sunday would take them one step closer to that all-important top four finish.

"In the three years I have been at Bath Rugby it has not been this tight," he said.

"That is one of the beauties of the Guinness Premiership. It is a tough competition home and away and it is a great competition.

"Newcastle beat Leicester, Saracens and Gloucester and they are playing with less pressure than us so that has got to work in their favour.

"But, on the intensity side of it we will be a lot fresher. I think it will be very tough and we will have to assess how we attack and break them down.

"We have got to win both games. The priority is to win the game and maximising in points will happen depending on the nature of the game.

"Newcastle are a team who like to play rugby, but there is a chance that with a lack of pressure on them the game will open up and allow us to have a crack at scoring four tries."

Newcastle: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Danny Williams, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Tom May, 9 Micky Young, 8 Adam Balding, 7 Brent Wilson, 6 Phil Dowson (capt), 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Rob Vickers, 1 David Wilson.

Replacements: 16 Matt Thompson, 17 Micky Ward, 18 Geoff Parling, 19 Russell Winter, 20 Hall Charlton, 21 Rob Miller, 22 John Rudd.

Bath: 15 Joe Maddock, 14 Andrew Higgins, 13 Tom Cheeseman, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Stuart Hooper, 7 Michael Lipman (capt), 6 Andy Beattie, 5 Peter Short, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Duncan Bell, 2 Lee Mears, 1 David Flatman.

Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Paulica Ion, 18 Jonny Faamatuainu, 19 James Scaysbrook, 20 Scott Bemand, 21 Ryan Davis, 22 Michael Stephenson.