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Aviva Premiership: ​Bath entertain Newcastle while Sale take on London Irish

Bath host Newcastle at The Rec while Sale take on London Irish in Saturday's two Aviva Premiership encounters.

The Falcons will be looking to secure three in a row in the competition or the first time since March 2009 altough they face a Bath side that are unbeaten in their last five Aviva Premiership fixtures played on home soil.

England squad centre Jonathan Joseph returns for Bath, and he will be partnered in midfield against the Falcons by Ollie Devoto. Gavin Henson continues at fly-half, with Stuart Hooper back as captain, and flanker Matt Garvey begins his comeback from a long injury lay-off on the bench.

Newcastle show four changes from the side beaten by LV= Cup opponents Cardiff Blues last time out, including starts for full-back Simon Hammersley and wing Sinoti Sinoti, while hooker George McGuigan makes his first start since September after recovering from injury.

Even stevens

In the day's other match, things could not be move even in the last five Aviva encounters between Sale and London Irish, with two wins apiece plus a draw.

Indeed, Irish have not beaten Sale at home since Sharks took their 2010/11 home fixture to the Reebok Stadium in Bolton.

Sale boss Steve Diamond has made eight changes following last weekend's LV= Cup loss against Leicester, with fly-half Danny Cipriani among those players returning to action. There is also an opportunity, meanwhile, for number eight Josh Beaumont.

More from Aviva Premiership 2014/15, Round Seven

Lock Sean Cox will make his Irish debut, lining up alongside second-row partner George Skivington against his former club. Chris Noakes and Darren Allinson form the half-back pairing, with Eoin Griffin and Fergus Mulchrone in midfield.

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