Newcastle boss John Fletcher has backed the Falcons' home-grown policy that will see him field 14 Englishmen in Sunday's Guinness Premiership clash against Wasps.
Only four of that contingent are not products of the Newcastle Academy.
Although Falcons have Australian World Cup-winner Matt Burke and revered New Zealand prop Carl Hayman currently on their books, nurturing local talent remains a priority.
Fletcher said: "We are a regional side representing the north-east and Cumbria, and we want to give opportunities to good regional players.
"I am a massive believer in the fact that domestic competitions have a responsibility to produce players for the national team.
"The England team is responsible for the whole game in this country in a sense, because they generate a huge amount of funding and enthusiasm at all levels.
"It is vitally important, and we as clubs have a duty to support that, which we take very seriously.
"It's not easy. Players are taken away from us at crucial times during our own season, but we will stick with a policy that produces mainly players from this region with a sprinkling of world-class overseas stars like Matt Burke and Carl Hayman.
"The easiest thing to do would be to go and buy a team full of South Africans or Islanders who can play 22 Premiership games a season.
"That would be a decent team, but what benefit would there be to English rugby or north-east rugby by doing that?
"Don't underestimate how important the national team is to the club game, and vice-versa. We just have to play bat and ball with each other."
Two of Newcastle's shining England lights - Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood - miss the trip to Adams Park because of ankle injuries, although they could return for next weekend's EDF Energy Cup appointment with the same opponents.
Wasps boss Ian McGeechan has named England World Cup trio Lawrence Dallaglio, Simon Shaw and Josh Lewsey on the bench, while wing Tom Voyce makes his 150th Premiership appearance in a side skippered by scrum-half Eoin Reddan.
Saracens have opted to rest centre Andy Farrell for the Vicarage Road encounter against London Irish on Sunday.
Farrell is replaced by Adam Powell in midfield, with fly-half Gordon Ross, prop Cobus Visagie and flanker Paul Gustard also called up following last Saturday's narrow Heineken Cup defeat against Biarritz.
Irish are flying high on the back of successive Heineken Cup bonus point wins against Treviso and Newport Gwent Dragons that have left them well-placed to reach the quarter-finals.
Saracens rugby director Alan Gaffney said: "We know we are in for a tough match.
"But we have shaken off disappointment at the manner of our defeat against Biarritz, and there is still a lot of confidence within the squad."
Irish make a solitary switch following the 45-17 romp in Newport, handing number eight Phil Murphy a start instead of Juan Leguizamon.
Sale Sharks boss Philippe Saint-Andre last night hailed Luke McAlister as "a terrific signing" after the New Zealand star made an impressive Premiership debut at Worcester.
McAlister played a crucial role in helping to create Sharks' opening try, then he kicked three second-half penalties after taking over kicking duties from Charlie Hodgson.
Sale's 34-15 victory - secured through tries by Rory Lamont, Mark Cueto, Ben Foden and Dean Schofield - lifted them two places to fifth in the league.
Saint-Andre said: "Luke McAlister is a world-class player, and it is so much easier when you have a player on the pitch like him.
"It is a terrific signing for us. He and Charlie Hodgson are two of the best playmakers in the world."
More news from SportingLife.com
