That mini slump has undone a perfect three out of three winning start, and Newcastle rugby director Rob Andrew knows it is vital his team tightens up defensively.

“More than anything, I want a really steely defensive performance, because that is the area where we haven’t performed in the last few weeks,” he said.

“We know we are capable of it because we did it at the start of the season, and the players know in no uncertain terms that we have to up our game in that area.

Andrew will be without the services of injured backs Jamie Noon (sore calf muscle) and Tom May (back), so Matt Burke moves into midfield, 18-year-old prospect Mathew Tait lines up on the wing and Dave Walder features at full-back.

In the pack, prop James Isaacson and flanker Ed Williamson both start, and Colin Charvis switches from openside flanker to number eight, with Samoan Semo Sititi dropping out.

French international Thomas Castaignede will replace injured full-back Dan Scarbrough in the Saracens side, moving from centre.

Ben Johnston takes Castaignede’s midfield berth, with Paul Bailey – who missed the Northampton game after being stuck in M25 traffic – returning on the wing.

Saracens skipper Hugh Vyvyan, meanwhile, returns to Tyneside after leaving Newcastle in the summer.

“We will all have a few beers with Hugh afterwards, but it is professional sport and people move on,” added Andrew. “We have to concentrate on the game and not let it dominate our thoughts.”