“There’s a lot of importance surrounding it as we look to build on the momentum we have generated from recent performances, and we need to show ourselves as Newcastle Falcons in our true light.

“We’re not getting in to talking about relegation because we have a huge self confidence and work ethic. If we stick with those values and team principles then we will be in pretty good shape, but there has been no talk of just surviving.

“If survival is the only goal you have in a competition then that will work to your detriment, you have to play to win and have big ambitions. It’s about winning things not just staying in there, so our goals are to win all three games at the end of the season. That is our motivation, believing in how we play, not just doing enough to stay in the competition.”

While Wilkinson’s own comeback from injury has dominated much media coverage, typically keen to avoid the limelight he takes the collective approach.

“Personally it has been disappointing to have again been on the sidelines for so long watching the team rather than being out there myself, but it’s about more than me, it’s about the club and everybody who is part of that, the supporters especially,” he said.

“We have beaten the top sides this season and put ourselves in to positions to win games but not followed it through. A good win has been followed by a defeat too often, and that’s where we need to improve going forward. That can turn your whole impression of a season, and we could be sat here today talking about a play-off place rather than where we are.

“It could have been very different, but we have to use it as motivation. We are learning from our mistakes, myself included, but there is a massive ambition and belief within this club that we can go on and achieve things together.”

Joining a talented midfield labelled the ‘Joy Division’ by one pundit, Wilkinson said of the current Falcons back line: “It makes me feel young again to play in a side with quality guys like Jamie Noon, Mathew Tait, Matt Burke and Toby Flood.

“Taity and Toby have been involved with England recently, and Jamie Noon should have had much more international recognition than he has because he is an outstanding talent and very rarely puts a foot wrong for whoever he plays. It’s exciting to have guys around you who excite you with the way they play rugby, and that they are on the same page as you. They are stepping up, making big decisions and developing very quickly in to great players.

“If you combine that with the contribution the overseas players have made then the whole enjoyment level at the club is rising. Guys like Joe McDonnell, Russell Winter, Mark Sorenson and Loki Crichton have come in and brought much more of a togetherness to the place.

“We are now doing much more away from rugby as a squad, and the team ethic is becoming extremely strong. We have pride in representing Newcastle Falcons together, and I think the supporters are pretty good at picking up on something like that because it’s so obvious to everyone.”

Now back firing after his earlier injury troubles, the fly half said: “Every time I’ve come back from one I’ve said it’s a closed door, all I can say is that I’ve closed a lot of doors!

“It’s just a case of finding the recipe and the formula to getting me on the field every week at my best. Pretty much all of the injuries have been contact during a game which you can’t prevent, but I just need to string some games together and learn week by week to improve.

“The difference between playing three games in four months and three games in three weeks is a whole universe apart, and that’s where I need to be for both my rugby but also my general peace of mind.”

With a big three weeks ahead for the Falcons and a trio of home games, Wilkinson said of the run-in to the season: “What drives us has to be looking at ourselves thinking ‘what are we about?’ rather than focusing too much on the opposition.

“Perhaps our killer instinct has let us down a little at times this season, but we have enormous pride in this club and we see things very clearly in that every game is important. You attack each game, and that’s why we feel Sunday is no more important even given the league situation, they’re all important.

“From a personal point of view the idea of playing again meant nothing to me if I didn’t feel I could come back and become better than I have been in the past.

“If I came back and I just felt I was going through the motions then it would be pretty obvious on my face, and to be honest I wouldn’t want to play the game. But I still have that belief and ambition to always improve and find new levels. It’s not about surviving, I’m not in this game to hang on to what I’ve had before. It’s about what can you achieve, and we have all the talent, support and facilities here at Newcastle to make that happen.”