Balding picked up an injury last weekend against Bath which has ruled him out of Friday’s Guinness Premiership game at Kingston Park (kick-off 8pm).
His place at No8 is taken by captain Phil Dowson, who switches from blindside flanker. The reshuffled back five sees Tim Swinson move to blindside and Mark Sorenson come into the second row. Former Tigers player Brent Wilson is at openside flanker while Matt Thompson replaces Rob Vickers at hooker
In the backs Hall Charlton starts at scrum-half while John Rudd returns from suspension on the left wing. There is no place for England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, who had been tipped to return from a knee injury for the game.
Steve Bates, Newcastle director of rugby, said: “Adam Balding’s injury picked up at Bath has meant some tinkering with the second and back rows, but we looked forward to the visit of Leicester, and hopefully a repeat of the result we enjoyed up here against them around this time last year.”
Tickets for are available on 0871 226 60 60, or from Kingston Park in person.
Newcastle Falcons team to face Leicester Tigers
15 Alex Tait
14 Tim Visser
13 Jamie Noon
12 Tane Tu'ipulotu
11 John Rudd
10 Tom May
9 Hall Charlton
1 Jon Golding
2 Matt Thompson
3 Carl Hayman
4 Geoff Parling
5 Mark Sorenson
6 Tim Swinson
7 Brent Wilson
8 Phil Dowson (captain)
Replacements
Rob Vickers
David Wilson
Andy Perry
Peter Browne
Russell Winter
Micky Young
Rob Miller
