New captain Nick Haydon has named 13 Blues in the Oxford University side to face Portugal in Lisbon on Saturday.

The showpiece match marks scrum half Haydon’s first game in charge and of his team, only centre Ed Boyes and No 8 Mike Rickner have not played in a Varsity Match.

Alex Cheesman, who started at outside centre against Cambridge, is named at openside flanker, while Will Browne reverts to full back.

Portugal have a 2011 World Cup qualifier against Georgia on February 13, so are looking to steel themselves for that test.

This term, the Dark Blues will be wearing ‘Help for Heroes’ socks as they seek to promote the charity for wounded troops.

With matches to come against the RAF, Navy and Army, plus an Oxbridge under 23 side taking on the Combined Services at Twickenham, Oxford hope to give the charity plenty of publicity.

Oxford University (v Portugal, away): Browne*, Morris*, James*, Boyes, Catling*, Swanson*, Haydon* (capt), Johnson*#, Rogers*, Tomaszczyk*, Outen*, Davies*, Makoto*, Cheesman*, Rickner. Reps: Oliver, MacDonald, Guinness, Mather, Waite, Record, Hudson, Kane, Rowe.

* Denotes Blue. # Denotes international.