Looking forward to welcoming Bedford Blues to the Mennaye Field on Saturday (ko 2.30pm), for what is a Round 2 contest in the RFU Championship, the fixture surely promises to be a highly entertaining affair – as has so often been the case in the past.

The Cornish Pirates starting XV shows five changes from the one that ran out against London Scottish last Friday evening. There is just one in the backs, where wing Arthur Relton is given a starting role, whilst in the pack there are four changes whereby Jack Andrew and Marlen Walker form the propping pair, Josh Williams is selected to partner Steele Barker in the second row, and Hugh Bokenham is named at number 8 for what will be his first ‘start’ for the club. As for the captaincy arm band, with John Stevens and Kyle Moyle both still injured, and last weekend’s stand-in skipper Alex Everett taking a place on the bench, it is young flanker Will Gibson who will have the honour of leading the side.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s encounter, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle said:

“As we know, Bedford have a strong DNA, and have been together for a couple of years or so now.

“They are lethal in transition and have pace and power in a well-balanced rugby team. We also know what former ‘Pirate’ Alex Day, who has skippered them, can bring, along with such as the experienced Michael Le Bourgeois.”

Gavin added:

“Aware that if you let them get a full head of steam up then it can be a long day at the office, as we experienced against them last season, we will need to be sharp defensively and limit those turnover opportunities. In short, they are a good team, and we will need to be ‘on it’!”

The Cornish Pirates full selection for Saturday is as follows:

Cornish Pirates:   15 Dan John 14 Will Trewin 13 Ioan Evans 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Arthur Relton 10 Iwan Jenkins 9 Ruaridh Dawson; 1 Jack Andrew 2 Morgan Nelson 3 Marlen Walker 4 Steele Barker 5 Josh Williams 6 Harry Dugmore 7 Will Gibson (captain) 8 Hugh Bokenham.

Replacements:   16 Rhys Williams 17 Lefty Zigiriadis 18 Matt Johnson 19 Josh King 20 Alex Everett 21 Alex Schwarz 22 Tom Pittman 23 Matt McNab.

Referee:   Jonathan Cook

Assistants:   Ryan Collier & Kevin Williams

Official 4:   Scott Baker

PR/Coach:   Tim Wigglesworth

Match Day Sponsor:   ARW Scaffold Contracting Ltd

Match Ball Sponsor:   Kernow Model Rail Centre

Match Day Collection:   Royal British Legion