CANADIAN international Matt Evans has been included in the Cornish Pirates' starting line-up for Sunday's clash with Greene King IPA Championship leaders Bristol.

The club's vice captain, who has been sat on the sidelines through injury, is one of five changes made to the starting XV for the game, which will be their first since losing 27-15 at London Scottish on January 16.

Evans came on in the 70th minute to replace Craig Holland against Scottish, which was his first appearance of any type for the side since October 4 when the Pirates played Doncaster Knights.

Other alterations see Mike Pope, Alex Dancer, Kieran Davies and Rob Elloway all start for the hosts.

New signing Marlen Walker has been named amongst the substitutes for the match, which kicks-off at 3pm.

When the Pirates and Bristol met earlier in the season, the league leaders won 45-17.

CORNISH PIRATES: 15 Matt Evans, 14 Mike Pope, 13 Tom Hendrickson, 12 Alex Dancer, 11 Craig Holland, 10 Kieran Hallett, 9 Tom Kessell; 1 Kieran Davies, 2 Rob Elloway, 3 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 4 Will Graulich, 5 Darren Barry, 6 Chris Morgan (c), 7 Joe Atkinson, 8 Laurie McGlone.

REPS: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Marlen Walker, 18 Francisco Deformes, 19 Charlie Davey, 20 Todd Lowry, 21 Rheon James, 22 Bertie Hopkin.