BEN STEVENSON returns on the wing tomorrow as Newcastle Falcons host Glasgow Warriors in a Friday-night showdown for a place in the quarter-finals of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

The 23-year-old Teessider makes his first start since November after recovering from an ankle injury, having come on from the bench during the recent wins over Worcester Warriors and Zebre Parma, with the winners of tomorrow's game set to face either Lyon or Worcester in the last eight.

Former Glasgow lock Greg Peterson is also back in the Falcons side, along with hooker George McGuigan, the Premiership Player of the Month who has grounded 16 tries in 22 games this season.

Eighteen members of Newcastle's match-day 23, including 12 of the starting 15, have had an involvement with the club’s academy, with head coach Dave Walder hoping for a big home atmosphere against their Scottish visitors.

“Glasgow have got half the Scotland team playing for them, with quality players outside of those boys, and it’ll be a great test,” said Walder, who was part of the Wasps squad which won Europe’s Heineken Cup in his playing days.

“We won up there in a pre-season game with the last play of the game, but you can’t take too much from those friendlies. We know they’re a well-drilled side with quality players, but those are the kinds of challenges you want when you have knockout European rugby at your home ground.

“The club have reduced the ticket prices to £10 for adults and £5 for juniors, which should hopefully help make it a great atmosphere, and Glasgow are actually one of our nearest professional opponents along with Edinburgh and Sale. I’m sure they’ll bring a decent support with them over the border, and there’ll be that real sense of occasion for what is a really important game.”

Admitting his side had made hard work of last weekend’s 25-22 home win over Zebre Parma, leaving it until the last play to find the winning try, Walder said: “We were disappointed with how we played against Zebre, although obviously pleased to have got the win and home advantage.

“I put it down to a bit of complacency from the whole group, coaches included, and we take collective responsibility. We’d had a big win down at Worcester the week before, having gone so long in the Premiership without one, and having performed so well that day I think we maybe took our eye off the ball a bit and took some things for granted."