For the second week running the Cornish Pirates are at home on Saturday, when in Round 20 of the Championship they will welcome Ampthill to the Mennaye Field for a 4^th versus 8^th contest (ko 2.30pm).

Although the Pirates won well, 33-17, against the Bedfordshire side away in December, they will take nothing for granted, noting that their opponents lost only narrowly, 36-33, in their local derby encounter at home against the strong Bedford team last Saturday.

Wing Matt McNab is set to make his 50^th appearance for the Cornish Pirates in a team which shows no changes, including on the bench, from last weekend.

Commenting ahead of Saturday’s encounter, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Alan Paver said:

“Firstly, I think our guys have done extremely well, especially in the second half of the season to build a momentum. It is a pattern we have seen and experienced before, although there is no certainty it is going to happen. However, the present group have put a lot of hard work in, and they have been getting what they deserve.

“Looking forward to Saturday, there is an expectation and of course we should be confident, but at the same time we also know we have to respect Ampthill and what is in front of us, as at any given time we can be beaten.

“You don’t want to downplay it, because we are at home, but our aim is to prepare well in the training week and then see what happens on the day.”

The Cornish Pirates selection for Saturday is as follows:

Cornish Pirates:   15 Will Trewin 14 Robin Wedlake 13 Chester Ribbons 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Matt McNab 10 Bruce Houston 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Billy Young 2 Matt Pritchard 3 James French 4 Charlie Rice 5 Josh King 6 Matt Cannon 7 Jack Forsythe 8 Alex Everett (captain).

Replacements:   16 Harry Hocking 17 Jenson Boughton 18 Ben Woodmansey `19 Fintan Coleman 20 Tomiwa Agbongbon 21 Will Rigelsford 22 Iwan Jenkins 23 Harry Yates.

Referee:   Dan Jones

Assistants:   Jonathan Healy & Kevin Williams

Match Day Sponsor:   A&P Williams Plastering

Match Day Collection:   The YMCA

(Besides the live Championship rugby action rugby, ‘Festival Season’ continues at the Mennaye Field on Saturday with live music and family fun! There will be post-match Singalongs with Cadgwith Singers and Will Keating, and added to this the Callestick Farm ice cream trike is back, as is a Bouncy castle and face painting, plus games and giveaways with Tribute & Thatchers.)