By Paul Smith 
Powerhouse back-rower Senitki Nayalo returns to Coventry’s starting line-up for tomorrow’s top-of-the-table clash with Chinnor (Butts Park Arena, 3pm kick off).
The British Army no.8 who sat out last weekend’s bonus point win at Cambridge is named alongside flankers Matt Kvesic and Tom Ball in the run-on team to face the second-placed Oxfordshire visitors.
Coventry Rugby head coach Alex Rae also makes changes in both the second and front rows of his pack.
Fijian prospect Billy Nairau is named to start the match at tight-head prop while Rhys Anstey and James Tyas rotate bench and starting roles in the second row.
Behind the scrum Josh Barton will partner in-form fly half Liam Richman at half-back while the powerful Daf Tiueti returns to partner Tom Hitchcock in the centre.
Rae and his coaching team retain the same back three – Jimmy Martin, Ryan Hutler and Charlie Robson – who performed impressively at Cambridge. Collectively this trio has claimed eight of the 17 tries Cov have recorded in their opening three league games this term.
Prop Eliot Salt and scrum-half Fin Ogden are in line to make their first appearances of the season from the bench where flanker Aaron Hinkley and no.8 Chester Owen are among the six forwards named.
Chinnor who are making their first league visit to the Butts Park Arena have made an impressive start to life in English rugby’s second tier thanks to wins over Cambridge and Caldy and a narrow defeat at Ampthill.
Few would have predicted that last season’s National One winners would have made such an instant impact and Rae is expecting them to approach Saturday’s game as something of a one-off opportunity.
“From what we’ve seen Chinnor look very well coached,” he said. “When they came to the Butts in pre-season they were very physical and we’re expecting more of the same on Saturday.
“I don’t pay any heed to the friendly we played in August and I imagine they’ll be the same even though they had a really good second half.
“Now we’re a little way into the season it’s completely different for both sides and coming here for them on the back of a good start is almost a free shot.”
Coventry: Robson; Hutler, Tiueti, Hitchcock, Martin; Richman, Barton; Trinder, Poole, Nairau; Nkwocha, Anstey; Ball, Kvesic, Nayalo.
Replacements: Ma’asi, Warren, Salt, Tyas, Hinkley, Ogden, Opoku, Owen
Match tickets for Cov’s home game against Chinnor on Saturday October 12th can be purchased at https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/tickets/matchday-tickets/
