Vaughan Going returns at full-back and last season’s record try scorer for Bristol, Sean Marsden, goes to the left wing. Mark Denney and Manuel Contepomi will form a new centre partnership while Tommy Hayes and Jake Rauluni get the nod at half-back. Mark Irish, Saul Nelson and Wayne Thompson form a front row with plenty of potential. Argentinian international Mariano Sambucetti is partnered by Ollie Hodge in the second row. Richard Martin-Redman and Craig Short are back from injury and take up the blindside and openside berths and Geraint Lewis is back at number eight.

Head coach Richard Hill said: "We’re remaining faithful to the approach we’ve taken for the European games so far. It is an opportunity for some of the players who haven’t been in the league side and they’re usually very fresh and very eager to impress.

“They’ve done exceptionally well so far for us this season in places like Narbonne. They’ve been up for the challenge and really pushing for regular first team places.

“Players like Vaughan Going, Mariano Sambucetti, Tommy Hayes and Manu Contepomi are players who have featured in the first team this season and they want to stake their claim. They’re all highly motivated and ready to go.

“It’s still a very strong team. We’re very lucky in that we’ve got a strong squad. I’m not one for making unnecessary changes, I do like to keep a settled side. “However, I do have the luxury of knowing that I could take any one of these players and slot them into the starting XV for any match and they’ll do a good job for me.”

Bristol Rugby

15 Vaughan Going
14 Lee Robinson
13 Mark Denney
12 Manuel Contepomi
11 Sean Marsden
10 Tommy Hayes
9 Jake Rauluni
1 Mark Irish
2 Saul Nelson
3 Wayne Thompson
4 Mariano Sambucetti
5 Ollie Hodge
6 Richard Martin-Redman
7 Craig Short (capt)
8 Geraint Lewis

Replacements:
Alex Clarke, Martin Rospide, Neil Clark, Gareth Llewellyn, Joe El Abd, David Lemi, Danny Gray