HENLEY Hawks can expect an early test of their promotion credentials when they host Oxfordshire rivals Chinnor in National 2 South tomorrow.

Hawks have stated bouncing straight back to National 1 as their intention, while Chinnor’s much-changed squad are also tipped to be challenging near the top.

“I think by the fact that Henley got relegated from National 1, that makes them a promotion candidate for this year,” said Chinnor director of rugby Matt Williams.

“For ourselves, we are just taking things game-by-game.

“For me the local derby doesn’t actually matter. It’s about another away game and trying to challenge in it.”

There has been some movement between the clubs this summer, with Chinnor now captained by former Hawks skipper Martin Nutt.

Chinnor name ex-Henley flanker Ryan Long on the bench, while Dan Barnes, who moved the other way, starts at inside centre.

Also for Henley, Ed Yarnton moves from centre to fly half to cover for James Comben, who misses out with an ankle injury.

Centre Tom Gardner is unavailable, so Piers O’Conor takes his place and Fred Pierrepoint starts on the wing.

Tom West starts at loosehead prop, swapping places with Hugo Milford-Scott, who is a replacement.

Former Ulster academy and Nottingham hooker Stuart Philpott makes his debut, with George Edgson dropping to the bench.

For Chinnor, Simone Carloni replaces Ian Stock at loosehead prop, Alex Waddingham comes in at openside flanker, with Ben Manning moving to No 6 and Dave Manning dropping to the bench.

Williams added: “We played superbly for 20 minutes last week (in their 45-18 victory over Dings Crusaders).

“If we can do that for half a game, we will score tries because we have so many power options.”

Ed Yeates and Liam Nichols come into the Oxford Harlequins side for their match at Brixham in National 3 South West.

Yeates starts on the wing for his debut, while Nichols gets the nod at hooker after coming off the bench in last week’s win over Bournemouth.

Matt Edney drops to the bench.

Wing Harry Carr and centre Guy Nicholl make their first starts of the season as Grove host Towcestrians in South West 1 East.

Nick and Roger Sevier, Owen Gustafson, Jack Horrocks and Simon Peel are all unavailable.

Head coach Craig Burrows said: “We had the edge up front last week (in a 35-13 defeat at Swindon), but were a bit blunt behind, so hopefully they will bring some firepower to our back line.

Captain Jez Hicks and centre Matt Clarke will have fitness tests on injuries ahead of Witney’s trip to Newbury Blues.

TOMORROW'S TEAMS

Henley Hawks (v Chinnor, home): Allen, Pierrepoint, O’Conor, Barnes, Owen, Yarnton, Murphy, West, Philpott, Manning, Clements (capt), Payne, Hall, Newman, Stapley. Reps: Milford-Scott, Edgson, Woodward, Andre, Bruce.

Chinnor (v Henley Hawks, away): Nutt (capt), Mountford, Hayes, Fatialofa, Haile, Keohane, Boughton, Carloni, Townsend, Paoletti, Kroman, McKee, Manning, Waddingham, To’oala. Reps: Pickett, Tibbatts, Long, Jones, Martey.

Oxford Harlequins (v Brixham, away): from Marshall, Nichols, Boulton, Purchase, Brown (capt), Battson, Ward, Tupou, Jones, Norris, Yeates, Hulett, Lee, Sharratt, Edney, Critchley, Willcocks.

Grove (v Towcestrians, home): Davies, Bant, G Nicholl, Bellinger, Carr, Day, J Chivers, Eckert (capt), Dixey, Walsh, Miles, Ponting, C Chivers, Wells, Gratwohl. Reps: Wiltshire, Law, Cox.

Witney (v Newbury Blues, away): Monks, Lambourne, Strutt, Clarke, Fisk, H Lamb, G Campbell, Calley, S Collins, Burke, Hyde, Bennett, Hicks (capt), Catherall, Rowles. Reps: A Copperwheat, C Campbell, J Lamb.

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