The Cornish Pirates will hope that their British & Irish Cup tie in Wales on Saturday beats the weather as they face a long trip to Carmarthen Quins for their final Pool 3 game on Saturday (2pm), writes Dick Straughan.
The Pirates have already qualified for the quarter-final of the tournament and their home win over Dundee last Sunday eliminated the Welsh side. But to secure the coveted home draw in the next round the Pirates need to ensure that they avoid defeat at Carmarthen Park.
Flanker Kyle Marriott returns to lead the side with Ben Maidment switching to the Number 8 role and Phil Burgess rested. Lock Darren Barry takes over in the second row from David Lyons and Rob Elloway comes in at hooker for Darren Semmens who drops to the bench.
In the backs Kieran Hallett starts at fly-half after picking up a knock last weekend whilst Matt Evans makes a welcome return from injury to claim the full-back berth from Wes Davies.
The Canada international has been out of action since early November but is still the club`s top try-scorer for the season with 7 touchdowns to his name.
Sam Hill and JJ Kilmartin have been released from England and Scotland Under-20 training camps respectively to take their places in the threequarters.
On the bench back-row Tom Duncan keeps his places with Grant Pointer also named after missing the last six games with a hamstring problem.
Cornish Pirates: Evans, Bedford, Hill, Fatialofa, Kilmartin, Hallett, Kessell; Storer, Elloway, Prescott, Barry, Johnson, Marriott (capt), Cheesman, Maidment. Replacements – Joyce, Semmens, Tyas, Duncan, Cattle, Riley, Pointer.
