Falcons look for a flier

The Falcons will be hoping to repeat their six wins from six in the Pool stages of last season's European Challenge Cup, with Fletcher declaring: "We are taking the competition seriously, and will prepare for Padova just as we would do for a Premiership game.

"We faced Italian opposition last season with L'Aquila, but Padova will be a step up from that without a doubt. They had a good win against Calvisano on Sunday, and we're having the tape flown over from Italy so we can have a good look at them."

Newcastle go in to the game on the back of a 35-15 defeat at London Wasps on Sunday, having beaten Magners League high fliers Llanelli Scarlets the previous week.

"To go from the Llanelli performance down to the level we showed on Sunday was very disappointing," said Fletcher.

"Having a game so quickly after that could actually be a blessing, because it gives us a chance to come back and show people what we are really capable of."

Looking at the Pool as a whole, he said: "Padova won't be a pushover because they have guys like Nicky Little, the Fiji fly half, and a number of other internationals.

"After this game we have a trip to Brive, who we played last season, so we know exactly what sort of test awaits us over there, and in the next round of games we have home-and-away games with Montauban, who have already beaten Perpignan and Stade Français Paris this season. But we're not thinking past this weekend, we just want to start the competition with a win and help put some momentum in to our season."