May is happy with fly-half role

May has figured in a variety of positions in the Falcons side

Newcastle Falcons centre Tom May has been lined up for an unfamiliar role at fly-half for the trip to Bristol but admits he is happy just to be included.

May, 30, will step into the position in place of Rory Clegg, who drops to the bench, and the London-born utility man is keen to aid the team to victory.

"If I had a choice I'd play at centre," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"It's a game we can win, we've got our side in order. We look forward to the game and we'll give them respect."

May has featured at centre and on the wing for Falcons since joining the club in March 1999, with the official website even taking to listing him as a 'universal back'.

Meanwhile the opening round of Six Nations matches gave the Falcons side the chance to regroup and rest ahead of the game, which pits Steve Bates' side against bottom club Bristol.

Fans and pundits are touting the match as the division's decider for relegation, particularly with Falcons just five points above the West Country side in the table.

But May, like team-mate Phil Dowson, has played down the importance of this encounter, with ten games still to play, on the outcome of the Premiership table.

"It's obviously a big game but it's the same number of points at stake as any other," he said.

"It's the two teams at the bottom of the league so everyone in the media is building it up as some sort of relegation decider but there's a lot of rugby to be played between now and the end of the season.

Of course the outsiders in the press and some of the fans will be saying this game decides who goes down, but there's plenty of matches left yet.

Tom May

"We're second-from-bottom, that is what it is and nobody is burying their heads in the sand about that but we're just preparing with plenty of confidence and trying to win every game we play - not just the Bristol one.

"Of course the outsiders in the press and some of the fans will be saying this game decides who goes down but there's plenty of matches left yet.

"It makes good copy for the papers but the most important thing is that the everyone in the team knows their role and executes it on the night."