Newport Gwent Dragons coach Chris Anderson gives his team a firm warning ahead of tomorrow's Heineken Cup clash at Rodney Parade -- underestimate Newcastle without Jonny Wilkinson at your peril.

The England star withdrew yesterday with a badly bruised arm which will also keep him out of next month's internationals and his absence will cause huge disappointment to many fans who had bought tickets for tomorrow's game anticipating his appearance.

Wilkinson will be replaced by Dave Walder, another England international who has a habit of piling up the points just like Wilkinson.

"This could be detrimental to us and they will probably be even more determined now," warns Anderson.

"They will come here with a wounded feeling and the last thing we can do is think they will be any less effective."

Dragons captain Jason Forster is as forthright as ever about Wilkinson's absence. "We don't give two monkeys about whether he's playing, he could have been out for a lot longer if we'd got hold of him," he said.

"We'll aim to smash them down whoever's out there and it's still going to be a great game. We will still try our hardest and we'll still concentrate on our own game.

"We'll go about our normal business and come up with the goods. We've still got to step up to the mark for Europe.

"All the talk has been about Jonny Wilkinson, but we've got stars in our side as well.

"Newcastle could go out there now and say 'we'll win without Jonny Wilkinson' or they could be a bit down without their talisman.

"But though it's a big blow for them he's one man in 15 and they will still be very competitive and it's still a massive challenge.

"Dave Walder is a class player to replace him, he's another England international so losing one player won't make that much difference."

The Dragons received a double boost with the return to fitness of Wales pair Michael Owen and Hal Luscombe.

Owen has staged a remarkable recovery from a back injury which threatened to keep him out for some time. He trained yesterday for the first time for a week and came through unscathed while Luscombe has also fully recovered from a shoulder injury which sidelined him for a month.

Owen plays at lock instead of Peter Sidoli while Luscombe returns at the expense of Nathan Brew on the left wing after playing at outside centre in the first three games of the season.

That was before Percy Montgomery returned and though Brew is unfortunate to miss out, the Dragons back division is now among the most dangerous and talented anywhere in the game with a number of players capable of turning a game on its head.

The other change from last week's match against the Borders is at loose head prop where Rod Snow returns. Jamie Ringer has recovered from a hip injury.

Newcastle are struggling at hooker with first choice Andy Long out with a hamstring injury and Matt Thomson struggling with a neck injury, so they field three props in their front row.

Newport Gwent Dragons: K Morgan, G Wyatt, P Montgomery, S Tuipulotu, H Luscombe, C Sweeney, G Cooper, R Snow, S Jones, R Thomas, I Gough, M Owen, J Ringer, R Bryan, J Forster (captain). Replacements: N Brew, G Baber, A Black, J Richards, C Anthony, P Sidoli, R Beattie.

Newcastle Falcons: M Burke, T May, J Noon, M Tait, M Stephenson, D Walder, J Grindle, I Peel (captain), J Isaacson, M Ward, L Gross, A Grimes, M McCarthy, P Dowson, C Charvis. Kick-off 1pm.