Ally Hogg gears up for Newcastle survival fight

ALLY Hogg, the former Edinburgh back-row forward, is braced for a four-game bid for Aviva Premiership survival with Newcastle, starting tonight when they host European title contenders Northampton.

The Falcons swapped places with Leeds Carnegie last weekend after they were beaten 30-29 by the Yorkshire club. The loss sent Newcastle bottom of the Premiership, one point behind Leeds with a game in hand, although three of their last four league fixtures are at home - against Northampton, Leicester and Bath.

"At one point behind and four games to go, it is still in our own hands," said Hogg. "We will go out there for every match determined to fight for the win." The possibility of relegation is not something Hogg experienced in the Magners League. And he admitted: "If you were in this position in the Magners League then you would start thinking about building for next season. But we don't have that luxury because we are fighting for our lives until the very end of the season.

Falcons head coach Alan Tait has made three changes from the Leeds loss, calling up full-back Tom Catterick, wing Gcobani Bobo and centre James Fitzpatrick, with Saints fielding 14 of the side that accounted for Heineken Cup quarter-final opponents Ulster four days ago. Northampton will move above Gloucester into third place if they win, with the west country club visiting leaders Leicester on Saturday and then entertaining Saints in a rearranged Premiership fixture next Tuesday night.