BATH have made three changes to their starting line-up for Sunday's trip to Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership (3pm).

Up front, Nick Auterac returns to take his position on the loosehead side of the scrum, with Ross Batty and Henry Thomas alongside him.

Matt Garvey and Charlie Ewels are partnered in the engine room, as Guy Mercer again captains the team from the openside.

Completing the pack are Leroy Houston on the blindside and David Denton at the base of the scrum.

Niko Matawalu joins Rhys Priestland in the half-backs, with the midfield combination of Ollie Devoto and Jonathan Joseph continuing.

Matt Banahan is the final change to the side that beat Worcester last weekend, coming onto the left wing. Horacio Agulla moves across to the right wing and Tom Homer keeps his place at full-back.

Bath: 15. Tom Homer, 14. Horacio Agulla, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 12. Ollie Devoto, 11. Matt Banahan, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Niko Matawalu, 1. Nick Auterac, 2. Ross Batty, 3. Henry Thomas, 4. Matt Garvey, 5. Charlie Ewels, 6. Leroy Houston, 7. Guy Mercer (c), 8. David Denton.

Replacements: 16. Rob Webber, 17. Max Lahiff, 18. David Wilson, 19. Dominic Day, 20. Francois Louw, 21. Jonathan Evans, 22. George Ford, 23. Anthony Watson.