JAKE Henry will make his long-awaited Coventry Rugby debut when Alex Rae’s side return to action against Cambridge this weekend.
The 24-year-old joined Cov on loan from Edinburgh in the summer and will start on the left wing in the side’s first outing since mid-February.
Henry joins David Opoku and Ryan Hutler in a back three with Charlie Robson on the bench Cov.
Oli Morris partners Daf-Rhys Tiueti in midfield while Josh Barton starts alongside Tommy Mathews at half-back.
Rae names the same front row which started against the Tigers – supported by an identical trio of replacements.
Fit-again James Tyas links up with Tiki Nayalo in the second row with Chester Owen also handed his third start of the season at no.8.
The five-week mid-season gap has allowed forwards Suva Ma’asi and Dan Green to recover from injuries with players on the bench.
Rae said: “Cambridge changed coaches midway through the season, I think Anthony Allen is looking after then now until Craig Newby comes in.
“They try to play a fair amount of attacking rugby and seem to be involved in some high scoring games.
“Playing them is never easy, but with no disrespect to Cambridge we are very much concentrating on what we want to do.
“We’ve proved in the past that if we get our game right we are a match for anybody in this league, so we are very much focussed on how we want to play the game and on giving the fans something to smile about.”
Coventry Rugby’s line-up vs Cambridge
Coventry: Ryan Hutler; David Opoku, Oli Morris, Daf-Rhys Tiueti, Jake Henry; Tommy Mathews, Josh Barton; Toby Trinder, Jordon Poole, Vilikesa Nairau; James Tyas, Senitiki Nayalo; Tom Ball, Aaron Hinkley, Chester Owen.
Replacements: Will Biggs, Jevaughn Warren, Eliot Salt, Dan Green, Rhys Anstey, Will Lane, Charlie Robson, Suva Ma’asi
Coventry host Cambridge on Saturday, March 22 with kick-off at 3pm at Butts Park Arena.
