The Cornish Pirates are next in action this Sunday when, after journeying up the A30 and onto the M5, they will play Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Cup. The Devon side top Pool E in the competition, and the match at Sandy Park kicks off at 3pm.

A tough 1^st v 4^th game is inevitably expected, remembering that the Chiefs, who won 36-14 away to Hartpury last Saturday, emerged comfortable 68-7 winners against the Pirates in the home tie played at the Mennaye Field back in November.

As previously mentioned, unavailability for various reasons has hampered the Pirates cause this season, but much credit has also been due all who have featured.

Changes in this week’s starting line-up reveal Bruce Houston selected at full-back and Harry Yates in the centre, to partner Tom Georgiou. Props Oisin Michel and James French are also given starting roles, as is hooker Harry Hocking. Hugh Bokenham is unavailable because of injury, so Tomi Agbongbon gets the nod at number 8, whilst the skipper’s armband will be worn by Josh King. He is this week named at ‘5’ and Matt Cannon at ‘6’.

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

“Having played well at home against Gloucester last week, who we pushed very close and made a good fist of it, our players have another opportunity on Sunday to pit themselves against what we know will be another strong Premiership team in Exeter.

“There is credit due our recent new faces, who have had to learn quickly to enable us to together put our best foot forward. Yes, we’ve been disrupted, but we have kept a focus, and the attitude of all the players involved has been terrific.”

The Cornish Pirates full selection for Sunday is as follows:

Cornish Pirates:   15 Bruce Houston 14 Arthur Relton 13 Tom Georgiou 12 Harry Yates 11 Will Trewin 10 Iwan Jenkins 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Oisin Michel 2 Harry Hocking 3 James French 4 Alfie Bell 5 Josh King (captain) 6 Matt Cannon 7 Lucas Dorrell 8 Tomi Agbongbon.

Replacements:   16 Sol Moody 17 Billy Young 18 Tom Connolly 19 Fintan Coleman 20 Chris Mills 21 Cam Jones 22 Joe Elderkin 23 Iwan Price-Thomas.

Unavailable for selection: Billy Keast, Jay Tyack, Eoin O’Connor, Charlie Rice, Milo Hallam, Hallam Chapman, John Stevens, Alex Everett, Matt McNab, Robin Wedlake, Chester Ribbons, Charlie McCaig, Hugh Bokenham, Matt Pritchard.