Cumbria's Mark Wilson is set to captain Newcastle Falcons in their European Challenge Cup opener against Dragons.

Gary Graham, once of Carlisle Rugby Club, is also in line for his first start for Falcons at Kingston Park (3pm start) tomorrow afternoon after joining the Newcastle club from Jersey Reds this summer.

Former England international Toby Flood will make his Falcons debut but it's Wilson, who began his junior rugby career in Penrith, who has been tasked with leading the team.

Newcastle have made 11 changes to their team in total, from that which played in their Aviva Premiership 34-24 defeat to Exeter Chiefs last Saturday.

Elsewhere, teenage flyer Adam Radwan is handed his first competitive start of the campaign after shining in pre-season, Simon Hammersley returns at full-back from an ankle injury and Scott Wilson is set for a first appearance of the season from the bench after recovering from injury.

Defence coach John Wells is keen for Newcastle to build on their promising start to the Aviva Premiership season, which sees them sit fourth.

"Overall it has been a pleasing start, but we know it could have been even better," Wells said to Falcons' website.

"I don’t suppose the top six English teams who are in the Champions Cup this weekend are talking about resting players – they’re going full bore and rolling out the big boys who’ve been playing the first six weeks of the Premiership when they’re facing the likes of Clermont, Munster and teams of that ilk.

"There’ll be nobody in that kind of company talking about taking it easy.

"But for where we are at the moment, we’ve probably got the ability to give some guys a bit of a breather and allow some of the players who are knocking on the door a chance to come in and show us what they can do.

"That said, I’d like to think that any team we put out will be competitive, and we’re going out there to win the game."

Carlisle's Chris Harris and Jamie Blamire, a former Workington Zebras player, are named among the replacements.