Henley Hawks winger Alan Awcock makes his competitive debut at full back for London Welsh, who have made wholseale changes for their British & Irish Cup opener against London Scottish at Newbury today (2.30pm).

Hawks have loaned Awcock to Exiles, and he plays in a back division, of whom only Nick Scott survives last week’s win at Rotherham Titans which sent them top of the Greene King IPA Championship. There’s a first appearance of the season for Sonny Parker, while Joe Ajuwa is back from injury.

Dante Mama also makes his first competitive start.

Mitch Lees, who turns 25 today, moves from blindside flanker to the second row, but otherwise it’s all change in the forwards as well. Richard Thorpe, who joined from Leicester Tigers, makes his first appearance, while former Newbury Blues second row Ben West will welcome the chance to run out at Monks Lane once again.

Burnell said: “I thought our bench changed the game against Rotherham.

“This is another opportunity for the players to make a statement before we go into a very important league run.”

Lewis Calder is set to make his competitive debut for Lonodn Scottish at hooker.

Calder has turned out twice for Richmond, but this will be a tougher test.

This will be the 65th meeting of the Exiles, with Welsh leading by 33 wins to 26.

London Welsh: Awcock, Ajuwa, Mama, Parker, Scott, Robinson, A Davies, Moss, Davis, Tideswell, Lees, West, Thorpe, Denbee, Pienaar (capt). Reps: Hepburn, Titterrell, Edwards, Browne, Kirwan, Cook, Frost.

London Scottish: Love, Homan, Don-eghan, Gidow (capt), Mantella, Newton, Stevenson, Kilbane, Calder, Francis, Spivey, Lyons, Pennycook, Trayfoot, Russell. Reps: Allen, Irish, Thiede, Bright, Pattenden, Grove, Reay.