The Cornish Pirates will extend a warm west country welcome to friends from 'up north' on Sunday, as they play host to the Rotherham Titans.

The Yorkshire club, who are currently fifth in the RFU Championship table, won a derby encounter 38-20 at home to Doncaster Knights last weekend, despite a level of natural disarray following the news that their South African head coach, Andre Bester, had resigned just two days earlier.

The Pirates are expecting a tough encounter and it'll be extra interesting to see how this particular contest pans out. They impressed when winning 21-8 against Leeds Carnegie two weeks ago and will be endeavouring to match that performance or go even better this weekend. The match kicks off at 2pm.

There are changes to the side that drew 9-all away to Moseley last week, with Wes Davies named in the starting line-up at full-back and Junior Fatialofa returning at centre to partner Tom Riley.

With the Championship's leading try-scorer, Matt Evans, on international duty with Canada, his place on the wing is taken by Ben Mercer who, after two appearances for the Pirates in the British & Irish Cup, will be making his first Championship appearance for the club.

Gavin Cattle takes back the skipper's arm band, and he'll be playing behind a pack where the return of tight-head prop Ben Prescott is just a single change from the forwards unit that started at Billesley Common.

Cornish Pirates:   W. Davies, G. Pointer, T. Riley, J. Fatialofa, B. Mercer, A. Penberthy, G. Cattle (capt), L. McGlone, P. Burgess, B. Maidment, G. Johnson, D. Lyons, B. Prescott, R. Elloway, R. Storer.
Replacements:   A. Paver, D. Semmens, P. Joyce, D. Barry, T. Kessell, K. Hallett, A. Cheesman.

Referee:   John Meredith (RFU)

Assistants:   Shane Lewis & Chris Sharp

The Cornish Pirates have offered a special group discount ticket deal for this match, whereby current armed forces personnel and Royal British Legion members in Cornwall have been able to purchase15 ground tickets for just £100. For more information and to obtain tickets reference the special offer, please either email alexandra.davies@cornish-pirates.com or telephone 07766 905417.

For all other general ticket requirements for this match, please note they can be purchased on-line at www.cornish-pirates.com, and from certain Warrens shops about the county. They will also be available at the gates on the day, which open at 12 noon..

It being 'Remembrance Sunday' there will be a minute's silence just before the kick-off, and during half-time and on the exit gates there will also be the annual collection for the Royal British Legion's 'Poppy Appeal', which the Cornish Pirates have always been keen to support .