Aviva Premiership: Newcastle Falcons v Northampton Saints preview

Reigning Aviva Premiership champions Northampton Saints aim to return to winning ways when they travel to Kingston Park to face Newcastle Falcons in Sunday's lone top-flight match.

Jim Mallinder's Saints were stung by Wasps last weekend with the Londoners running out 20-16 winners at Adams Park.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are still searching for their first win of the season after defeats to Leicester Tigers and London Irish, with their latest reverse extending their woeful Premiership run to 18 straight losses.

Despite their dismal run, only Worcester Warriors and Rotherham Titans have endured worse, Dean Richards side have been within a score of their opponents in almost half of their fixtures, collecting eight losing bonus points and two try bonuses. 

With Saints travelling to the north east on the back of defeat, Alesana Tuilagi is confident the Falcons can pull off an upset.

"I've watched both their opening games and obviously they had a good start to the season," he said.

"It's going to be pretty tough for us this weekend; they're pretty dangerous now having lost last week.

"We are looking to win so it'll be a good game I think. Our mindset is that we want to win, and if we go there thinking that I think we can do it."

Point to prove

Meanwhile, Wales and British and Irish Lions winger George North is relishing the prospect of Kingston Park's artificial surface.

"We're obviously looking to get back on track with a win," he said. "We've got something to prove now because we need to bounce back after last week's poor performance.

"The new pitch should help us play our natural game a bit more. The plastic is a fast pitch and will allow us to play a more open game."

Having arrived in the UK in late August, Tuilagi makes his first start while tighthead prop Scott Wilson also makes his full bow as two of four changes to the Falcons side.
 
In the pack, Kieran Brookes comes into the squad at loosehead with Wilson, fresh from his try scoring exploits last week lining up at tighthead, with Scott Lawson continuing at hooker.
 
Summer signing Josh Furno switches to blindside flanker with Richards acknowledging the ball-carrying power of the Italian forward, while Dom Barrow and Calum Green make up the second row.

Likewise, Saints coach Malinder has named four changes to his side for the Round 3 clash.

Ben Foden and Alex Waller come in for James Wilson and Alex Corbisiero at full-back and loosehead prop respectively, while Will Hooley and Kahn Fotuali'i form a new half-back partnership in place of Stephen Myler and Lee Dickson.

Dom Waldouck has been called up to the bench for the first time this season.

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Adam Powell, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair; 1 Kieran Brookes, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Scott Wilson, 4 Calum Green, 5 Dom Barrow, 6 Joshua Furno, 7 Will Welch, 8 Ally Hogg
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Alex Rogers, 18 Oliver Tomaszcyk, 19 Mark Wilson, 20 Richard Mayhew, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Gonzalo Tiesi, 23 Sinoti Sinoti

Northampton Saints: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 George North, 10 Will Hooley, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i; 1 Alex Waller, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 4 Courtney Lawes, 5 Christian Day, 6 Calum Clark, 7 Tom Wood, 8 Samu Manoa
Replacements: 16 Ross McMillan, 17 Alex Corbisiero, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 James Craig, 20 Jon Fisher, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 Dominic Waldouck, 23 James Wilson