The Friday before the opening day of the season is always one of excitement and trepidation. Three months of effort from the 1st XV, including an unbeaten pre-season sees the squad in a fantastic position moving into the weekend.

An influx of new players has seen the squad bolstered ahead if what will inevitably a long campaign (thanks to the World Cup, but whose complaining) and the fact that there are so many new faces in the both XVs shows that the future of the club is in good hands.

Honourable mentions go to scrum half Barry O'Dea and inside centre Finn Pritchard. They joined us in the summer from Edinburgh Accies and have become a great addition to the club already. Both are handed their full debuts tomorrow and we look forward to them wearing their boots, both on and off the pitch.

Off the bench, there is a every likelihood we'll see Tom "Tiny" Lawman, Stewart Morrison and Chris Gray, all of whom have joined the club in recent months.

Elsewhere, the Northern side includes club stalwart such as Walsh, Thompson, Spiller who are embarking on yet another season in old navy and gold. Anderson and Holland make up the second row, with imposing figure Greg Cranston, at 8 returning to the fold after a year in the wilderness.

In the backs, Wilcox starts at outside centre for the first time, whilst Coughlan, Leslie and Palmer make up the back three.

ENRFC 1XV:

Coughlan, Leslie, Wilcox, Pritchard, Palmer, Spiller, O'Dea, Walsh, Hogan, Candlish, Anderson, Holland, Mackintosh, Cranston, Thompson. Subs: Leatham, Hardman, Gray, Letham, Lawman, Morrison.

KO is at 3 pm, meet time is 1.15 pm. See you there.
Coughlan,