The return of the Guinness Premiership this weekend sees London Irish hoping to carry the winning momentum of its recent Cup performances into Sunday's away match with Newcastle Falcons. The match kicks-off at 3.00pm at Kingston Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Four wins out of five matches played in Cup competitions over the past five weeks provide a platform on which the Exiles hope to build in the forthcoming rounds of the Guinness Premiership through the rest of this month and into December.

International commitments mean that London Irish make five personnel and one positional change to the starting line-up of the team that defeated the Ospreys a fortnight ago. Among the backs Shane Geraghty switches to inside centre to allow Mike Catt to start at fly half. James Bailey comes in on the left wing.

In the pack there is a new combination in the second row where Kieran Roche and Nick Kennedy start together for the first time this season. Declan Danaher comes into the team at open side flanker.

"We return to the serious business of the Guinness Premiership this week with a difficult away fixture in Newcastle," said Toby Booth, London Irish Head Coach. "We want to take the positive momentum of recent weeks into the next rounds of the Premiership and European Challenge Cup.

"The Falcons are a quality team and in Steve Bates they have one of the country's best coaches as I know from working with him with the England Saxons. Kingston Park is always a difficult ground for visitors and we will need to be at our best to get a result," added Booth.

Team:
15. Peter Hewat; 14. Topsy Ojo; 13. Elvis Seveali'i; 12. Shane Geraghty; 11. James Bailey; 10. Mike Catt (captain); 9. Paul Hodgson*; 1. Clarke Dermody; 2. David Paice, 3. Faan Rautenbach; 4. Nick Kennedy; 5. Kieran Roche; 6. Richard Thorpe; 7. Declan Danaher; 8. Chris Hala'Ufia

Replacements:
16. Tonga Lea'aetoa ; 17. James Buckland; 18. Alex Corbisiero; 19. Gary Johnson; 20. Steffon Armitage; 21. Alfredo Lalanne; 22. Charlie Gower.

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