Premiership: Newcastle v Harlequins and Worcester v Exeter team news

All the team news for Sunday's Aviva Premiership action, with Falcons and Harlequins clashing, and Worcester taking on Exeter Chiefs.

Newcastle v Harlequins (3pm)

Newcastle have made two changes from the side last involved in Premiership action on January 10.

Italy international Giamba Venditti returns to the starting line-up on the wing where he replaces Marcus Watson, and there is also a start for prop Taione Vea ahead of Paddy Ryan.

Scrum-half Tito Tebaldi makes his first league start for Harlequins, taking the number No 9 jersey with Danny Care on England duty and Karl Dickson recovering from a hand injury that is expected to sideline him for up to 10 weeks.

Kiwi fly-half Nick Evans captains the side.

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Giamba Venditti, 10 Craig Willis, 9 Michael Young, 1 Rob Vickers, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Taione Vea, 4 Mark Wilson, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Will Welch (c), 7 Nili Latu, 8 Ally Hogg.

Replacements: 16 George McGuigan 17 Eric Fry 18 Paddy Ryan 19 Mouritz Botha 20 Richard Mayhew 21 Sonatane Takulua 22 Andy Goode 23 Adam Powell.

Harlequins: 15 Ross Chisholm, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 George Lowe, 12 Harry Sloan, 11 Charlie Walker, 10 Nick Evans (c), 9 Tito Tebaldi, 1 Mark Lambert, 2 Rob Buchanan, 3 Will Collier, 4 James Horwill, 5 Charlie Matthews, 6 Luke Wallace, 7 Dave Ward, 8 Mat Luamanu.

Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Owen Evans, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 George Merrick, 20 James Chisholm, 21 Calum Waters, 22 Ben Botica, 23 Tim Swiel.

Worcester v Exeter (3pm)

Worcester captain GJ van Velze makes a first Premiership appearance since late November and is among several changes for the Sixways visit of Exeter.

Elsewhere, winger Bryce Heem is back in action, while Luke Baldwin starts at scrum-half. Fly-half Tom Heathcote and second rower Darren Barry feature after returning from their respective injuries.

Exeter centre Sam Hill and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie take up spots on Exeter Chiefs' bench, while Michele Campagnaro and Wales prop Tomas Francis are both given starts by coach Rob Baxter. 

"We have looked at Worcester a lot recently and people will be aware there have been quite a few tight losses for them," said Baxter. "I quite like what they have done there. 

"I look at their games and a lot of what they do is very good and well structured. They have laid some good foundations and I think that is what makes them a side that is in every game they play.

"We were very similar to that when we first came up because if we didn't win a game, we would look to fight to the death and that's a really good quality to have. Worcester are the team that have come up and are fighting very well, so the pressure is on us to go there and perform very well and get something out of the game.

Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Luke Baldwin, 1 Na'ama Leleimalefaga, 2 Niall Annett, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 5 Darren Barry, 6 Phil Dowson, 7 Marco Mama, 8 GJ van Velze (C).

Replacements: 16 Ben Sowrey, 17 Ryan Bower, 19 James Johnston, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Matt Cox, 21 Charlie Mulchrone, 22 Andy Symons, 23 Dean Hammond.

Exeter: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Michele Campanaro, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 James Short, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Will Chudley, 1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Jack Yeandle (c), 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Jonny Hill, 5 Geoff Parling, 6 Don Armand, 7 Julian Salvi, 8 Thomas Waldrom.

Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Alex Brown, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Kai Horstmann, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Will Hooley, 23 Sam Hill.