By Paul Smith 
Summer signing Oli Morris makes his first Coventry Rugby appearance when Chinnor provide the Blue-and-Whites’ final pre-season opposition on Friday evening (Butts Park Arena, 7.30pm)
The former Worcester centre, who missed his new club’s comfortable win over Moseley in mid-August after picking up a knock in training, is the only debutant named by head coach Alex Rae in the starting line-up that faces the newly-promoted Oxfordshire outfit.
Morris combines with Daf Tiueti in midfield with Theo Mannion, who kicked six conversions against Moseley, given the chance to partner Josh Barton at half-back.
Two more new recruits feature in the back three as a result of Jake Henry moving to the right wing from outside centre and Steff Davies being named at full back.
Club captain Jordon Poole misses out due to illness which means Suva Ma’asi starts at hooker where he packs down between the versatile Vili Nairau and Toby Trinder who is named as skipper.
Matt Kvesic has recovered from the leg injury that kept him out of the Moseley game to feature in a starting back five that all performed with distinction last season.
Cov name ten forwards and seven backs on the bench for a match that will be played with limitless substitutions.
Among these former Italy U19 winger Charlie Whorrod gets another chance to impress while Bath prospects Jasper Spandler and Mike Summerfield provide front-row cover.
Rae said he is looking forward to seeing progress from the Moseley game with the league season now only a week away.
“We’re hoping to see improvements from the work done in recent weeks especially in the scrum and maul where Steve Boden has spent a lot of time with the forwards,” he said.
“We are also looking for increased tempo in our general attacking game.
“Pre-season is all about focusing on our own game and getting things right so we haven’t really spent much time looking at Chinnor.
“Building towards London Scottish next Friday we intend to rotate in the second half; some players will get an hour while others get a half or 20 minutes.”
The Chinnor pre-season game is included in season membership packages which are available via this link: https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/membership/
Alternatively tickets are available on the gate or in advance via this link: https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/tickets/
Coventry: Davies; Henry, Morris, Tiueti, Martin; Mannion, Barton; Trinder©, Ma’asi, Nairau; Nkwocha, Anstey; Ball, Kvesic, Nayalo
Forward Replacements: Johnson, Salt, Warren, Tyas, Green, Okeke, Hinckley, Owen, Spandler, Summerfield
Backs Replacements: Lane, Hitchcock, Robson, Hutler, Opoku, Ogden, Whorrod
