With no Championship fixture this past weekend, the Cornish Pirates are next in action away to Coventry on Saturday, for what is expected to be a close and hard-fought 3^rd versus 5^th clash.

When the two teams last met, the Pirates won 46-14 at the Mennaye Field in December. That result was one that surely nobody would have forecast, plus it means that Coventry will be fully focused to avenge such a defeat this weekend.

Team selection for the Pirates this weekend sees a fit again Will Trewin return at full-back and Charlie McCaig slot back in at centre alongside Chester Ribbons. In the forwards Sol Moody starts at hooker, Charlie ‘Buster’ Rice will partner Alfie Bell in the second row, and Josh King is this weekend named at wing forward. As for the bench, the familiar face of former Pirates’ prop Jack Andrew is listed, who by agreement is on loan from Camborne.

Commenting ahead of the game, Cornish Pirates’ coach Joe Walsh has said:

“It was good to get a couple of days off last week to help reset and recover, as we now have five tough games on the bounce to the end of the season.

“We have three home games, none of which will be easy, and two very difficult away fixtures against teams who will provide quality opposition, starting with Saturday at Coventry.

“It is going to be important for us to prepare well and following our excellent result against them at home I am sure that has been a talking point in their camp in the build up to this weekend.

“An emotional response is naturally likely, whilst knowing what we are capable of we need to perform again by sticking to process, make sure our flow of energy is right, and take our opportunities when they arise.”

The Cornish Pirates full selection for Saturday is as follows:

Cornish Pirates:   15 Will Trewin 14 Arthur Relton 13 Charlie McCaig 12 Chester Ribbons 11 Matt McNab 10 Bruce Houston 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Billy Young 2 Sol Moody 3 James French 4 Charlie Rice 5 Alfie Bell 6 Josh King 7 Jack Forsythe 8 Alex Everett (captain).

Replacements:   16 Harry Hocking 17 Jack Andrew 18 Ben Woodmansey 19 Matt Cannon 20 Fintan Coleman 21 Will Becconsall 22 Iwan Jenkins 23 Iwan Price-Thomas.