Newcastle boss Gary Gold believes the Falcons have "a real chance" of winning their Aviva Premiership survival fight.
A maximum five-point haul against fellow strugglers Wasps at Adams Park on Saturday will be enough, provided the Londoners do not collect a losing bonus point. It represents a tall order, but rugby director Gold is thrilled his players are still in there scrapping to stay up.
Since he took interim charge in January, Newcastle have beaten the likes of Gloucester, Sale Sharks and London Irish, and he said: "It would go down as a real highlight of my career if we managed to stay up. To keep Premiership rugby in the north-east would be an achievement of the human spirit."
He added: "It is about a group of guys who have not been given a chance to stay up - it is the essence of rugby, and anything is possible.
"I have just been blown away by the attitude that the players have shown on the field and how knowledgeable they are of the game.
"They have really responded to fighting for Premiership survival, and we have certainly been improving week in and week out. That is the reason why we have been able to go toe to toe with the top teams in the Premiership.
"We need to show real belief on Saturday. I know it is a pressure situation, but we are in with a real chance of getting the result we need."
