Itoje, Ford, Rees-Zammit and Freeman return in Prem
Wade, who recently signed a one-year contract extension with Red Bulls will be looking for his first Prem try of the season and the 94th of his career. Second row Oscar Usher and centre Rhys Beeckmans also come into the team, while loan arrival Ben Healy is named as a replacement. Exeter centre Nick Lilley is included for his first game since October in a side that includes Newcastle-bound duo Rusi Tuima and Will Rigg.
Second-row Dafydd Jenkins gets the weekend off after playing all but four minutes for Wales across the Six Nations. Newcastle: E Obatoyinbo; Wade, Hearle, Beeckmans, H Obatoyinbo; Connon, Benitez Cruz; Brocklebank, McGuigan (c), Palframan; Usher, Scott, Parsons, Christie, Leatherbarrow. Replacements: Fletcher, Hancock, McCallum, Clarke, Gordon, Elliott, Healy, Spencer.
Exeter Chiefs: Woodburn; Brown-Bampoe, Lilley, Rigg, Ridl; Skinner, Varney; Sio, Yeandle (c), Roots; Tuima, Zambonin, Hooper, Vintcent, Fisilau. Replacements: Heaven, Burger, Tchumbadze, Pearson, Worley-Brady, Cairns, Haydon-Wood, John. 'We'll be aggressive, but smart' - Gilmore on new Quins coaching ticket Leicester's win against Bristol last Sunday moved them up to third in the table There are two changes to the Gloucester XV as they take to Villa Park for their Slater Cup clash with Leicester Tigers.
Wales Under-20 captain Deian Gwynne slots into the back row, while Caolan Englefield starts ahead of the injured Tomos Williams. Williams' absence means scrum-half Rhys Price takes his place on the bench, where Seb Blake also returns from injury. England scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet is promoted to the Leicester Tigers starting line-up after coming off the bench in the win against Bristol Bears a week earlier.
As a result, Tom Whiteley drops to the bench where is joined by the fit-again pair of Adam Radwan and Harry Wells. Gloucester: Redshaw; Joseph, Llewellyn, S. Atkinson (c), Thorley; C.