The Cornish Pirates travel to Nottingham Rugby on Sunday, where another tough game is expected (3pm kick-off).

After two rounds played in this season’s Greene King IPA Championship the Pirates are fifth in the league and Nottingham sixth.

The Pirates have one win (26-17 away to Bedford Blues) under their belts, plus a draw (31-all at home to Ealing Trailfinders), whilst the Green & Whites have won one (25-22 at home to London Scottish) and narrowly lost one (26-24 away to Yorkshire Carnegie).

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s game, Cornish Pirates co-coach Alan Paver said: “Sunday’s will be a tough contest against a likely nuggety Nottingham side. We must be prepared for them to come out firing and I think it will be close.”

Alan added: “The boys are hungry, keen to progress, and our aim will be to put our systems in place, play our game, and see where that takes us.”

Cornish Pirates’ man-of-the-match against the Trailfinders, club captain Chris Morgan, is rested this week, so No. 8 Tom Duncan is handed the skipper’s armband.

Josh Caulfield, who is dual-registered with Exeter Chiefs, slots into the second-row to partner Brett Beukeboom, whilst the starting XV shows four other changes.

Named are scrum-half Stuart Townsend, flanker Sam Simmonds, hooker Tom Channon, and prop Paul Andrew, all of whom made an impact off the bench last Sunday.

Cornish Pirates full selection for Sunday is as follows: Cornish Pirates: 15 Toby May, 14 Kyle Moyle, 13 Alex Dancer, 12 Nicolas De Battista, 11 Matt Evans, 10 Will Cargill, 9 Stuart Townsend; 1 Paul Andrew, 2 Tom Channon, 3 Tyler Gendall, 4 Josh Caulfield, 5 Brett Beukeboom, 6 Dan Lee, 7 Sam Simmonds, 8 Tom Duncan (captain).

Replacements: 16 Jack Andrew, 17 Rob Elloway, 18 Jake Parker, 19 Alex Cheesman, 20 Alex Day, 21 Laurence May, Alex O’Meara.