NEWPORT Gwent Dragons wing Matthew Pewtner won’t face the formidable talents of Samoan aces Alex Tuilagi or Sinoti Sinoti on Saturday but he knows he will be kept on his toes by Newcastle’s English talent.

The Falcons have opted not to register the majority of their overseas talent for the European Rugby Challenge Cup in order to boost their English player quota and receive funding from the RFU.

But it has also exposed their young talent to European competition and they have thrived, winning 30-26 at Rodney Parade in October, beating Stade Francais in the north east and pushing them hard in Paris.

Full-back Simon Hammersley has caught the eye with his elusive running and fellow young backs Chris Harris and Tom Penny have also taken their chances.

It may be a crunch game that should decide the winners of Pool Three but Pewtner expects there to be plenty of running rugby despite a home quarter-final being at stake.

“Their full-back is sharp and is one of many exciting players they have who like to run a lot,” said the 24-year-old, a try scorer when the sides met in Newport.

“Newcastle like to throw the ball around and so do we so as long as the wind and rain holds off it should be a really good game, and a fast one on their plastic pitch.

“We went out to Stade Francais with nothing to lose and played some great stuff so if we play anywhere near that standard I am sure it will be a really entertaining game.”

The Dragons may be up against some of the Falcons young guns but head coach Kingsley Jones knows that they are well schooled by his former back row opponents Dean Richards and John Wells.

Newcastle suffered relegation from the Aviva Premiership in 2012 but bounced back at the first attempt, stayed up last season and are now working to ensure they avoid future battles against the drop.

“Dean runs a tight ship and is a great man manager,” said Jones. “It’s been a battle for him at Newcastle but I am pleased for him that his work is coming through.

“He employs good people around him and empowers them. It was the same at Harlequins and there was no doubt he would bounce back (from the Bloodgate scandal).

“John is an excellent coach with a lot of experience from Leicester and England. The credit for their superb set piece goes to him.

“They are a club on the up and they are building the business back to where it was 15 years ago."