Glenn Delaney will have a near full-strength squad going into Sunday's opening play-off clash against bitter rivals Exeter Chiefs.

A luxury the Green & Whites have not afforded for so much of the season, Delaney is delighted to be able to field his form side against the pool favourites.

Former England centre Ben Johnston will make his first start in six weeks after making a brief return to action against Coventry last weekend.

Delaney said: "We have a very young back line at the moment and he brings that experience some of other guys don't have yet. He has played in a Premiership environment and over in France at the top level plus a couple of England caps so he has a lot to call on.

"The youngsters have done really well over the past few weeks but in big games like Sunday's I think you need that experienced head out there.

"In the forwards you've got guys like Craig Hammond and Nic Rouse to lead some of the younger guys but in some of the games this season Andy Savage has been our oldest back out there at 23.

"We now have David Jackson back and available for selection as well as Johnno so there are now a couple of older heads to control the game and unlock the potential of some of the guys around them."

Elsewhere, Ed Slater makes his starting debut for the Green & Whites after coming off the replacements bench last weekend.

Phil Egglehsaw will miss out with a broken finger, moving Dan Hemingway into the number 8 spot.

Nottingham:

Parr, Youngs, Du Plessis, Rouse, Slater, Hammond (c), Sherriff, Hemingway; White, Tonks, Savage, Johnston, Streather, Cobden, Jackson.

Replacements:

Fowkes, Sammons, Buxton, Nimmo, Raven, Marshall, Blake.

Not sure how many of those are Leicester players, anyone know?

I think those in bold are dual registered but there may be more.

Parr, Youngs, Du Plessis, Rouse, Slater, Hammond (c), Sherriff, Hemingway; White, Tonks, Savage, Johnston, Streather, Cobden, Jackson.

Replacements:

Fowkes, Sammons, Buxton, Nimmo, Raven, Marshall, Blake.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 19/03/2010 20:06 by Moorsman.

Well good. If Nottingham are playing their strongest side the boys will know that they have a match on their hands, so will not be lax in anyway.

So, if we win a good win. If we lose?

Losing is not an option. Welsh away will be more difficult (don't forget they won at Pirates and games away at Welsh have always been unpredictable). As I would expect Nottingham to take points off Welsh at home and Welsh to beat Notts at home we need to beat both of them away as well as at home if we want to top the group and have choice of venue for the final first leg.
There are no easy games in this pool and away wins are likely to be key to who goes through and in which place. We have to do better than Bristol do this evening and we have to get 5 points on Sunday even if Bris lose tonight. Simples.
And we have to go in large numbers and make a hell of a lot of noise 'cos the Notts supporters are loud. It's a bit disappointing that there's only one coach and it's not completely full yet.

Slater is also dual registered as well. Good team that we can beat. Can't wait until sunday for the game, but I do dislike watching it at meadow lane.

I make it 16 of the squad of 22 that came to Sand Park in Jan.

Slightly disagree with exe4ever"s thinking "welsh away hardest game" I think notts away could be the toughest as we have already seen what welsh have,this is a different notts side,but all the games will be tough,shame about Ses"s injury although great to see Macca included.RING IT ON!!!

Seen all the sides in the league this season and without a doubt London Welsh are the best team i have seen.

Quote:

TEE HEE HEE
Slightly disagree with exe4ever"s thinking "welsh away hardest game" I think notts away could be the toughest as we have already seen what welsh have,this is a different notts side,but all the games will be tough,shame about Ses"s injury although great to see Macca included.RING IT ON!!!

they will all be tough games cos we are not as good as the heirarchy at SP would like us to believe...

As for Macca....not played at 13 since Christmas so i am sure he was really looking forward to it!! And Sean Marsden sidelined for Steve Jones??????

Dis anyone listen to the radio commentary??

I watched both Pirates games against London Welsh this season and i consider they are the best drilled side in the Championship League.Top quality coaches.

Quote:

Moorsman
I think those in bold are dual registered but there may be more.
Parr, Youngs, Du Plessis, Rouse, Slater, Hammond (c), Sherriff, Hemingway; White, Tonks, Savage, Johnston, Streather, Cobden, Jackson.

Replacements:

Fowkes, Sammons, Buxton, Nimmo, Raven, Marshall, Blake.

You ARE wrong.

Raven, Cobden and Hammond are all Nottingham players. Raven and Cobden were Tigers Academy players once upon a time. 3 in the starting lineup are Tigers and of those, Tonks has been with Notts for a few seasons now on a week in week out basis and Hemmingway would've been a permanent loan but for horrendous injury crisis at Tigers. No ringers in that Notts side today. Nothing out of the ordinary compared to many teams in the league. Sorry to spoil any excuses the Dual-Reg issue may have presented.

Don't Exe have some Barf ringers anyhow?

Pot, meet kettle.

gobbo, no excuses. Well done

Rinkadink, We have two Bath D/R players. Neither of who have pulled on a Chiefs jersey. Don't know why we have the,.

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My opinion is subject to change without notice.
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Not sure either, but you have made a deal with the devil so to speak and deserve to be burnt at the stake!

On a more serious note however, why haven't they played a game for you?

I don't know why we signed them. I preferred the moral high ground.

In my opinion they are not needed ( not so sure after today )

PLEASE can we have Junior back ??

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My opinion is subject to change without notice.
Usualy in direct proportion to the time spent in the Undercroft.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 21/03/2010 23:19 by Mabolza.

I have mentioned elsewhere but here again are my rants!

RIDICULOUS!!!

Playing Paul Mac at 13 when he hasnt since christmas isnt decent prep for playoffs. he is an amazing player that is being used to his potential. Marsden is one of the best full backs in the league, he doesnt even make the bench! Come on AH, have you go favourites!? We need a re think or might not make the semi final let alone final.
Now what will happen if we get a cope of injuries in the next few games which are likely to be the most physical of the season and for tired bodies too... Many of the boys we might have to depend on have been told they are not getting contracts or havent been told that they are, so are in process of signing for other clubs. Why give your are to a team that hasnt re signed you!? From what I see and hear players are being picked on anything but performance. There is favourisim. RB hopes the boys he picks will play themseleves into selection -eventually if he keeps giving them an opportunity! Some selections are woeful! no Plan b as far as I can see...today can not be part of a bigger plan!!! Sorry to rant and rant but disgusted!

But if you go up the DR's will be part and parcel of the GP set up. If you dont go up will you bemoan not having them on board now and using them? Its a double edged sword, make no mistake.

If we don't go up at least we won't have gone up on our own merits. I can see the point fro the prem & RFUs' view (& cash strapped Champoinship clubs) but it IS a farce that a Champoinship side can put out 22 Premiership players for a game, at least the RFU have been shamed into doing something about it for next season, though 5 is still too many.

Before we get the comments that it enables less well funded clubs to do better, tough! when Exeter had no money we got on with it and consistently punched above our weight with little or no help from anyone. It's almost like school sports day when the better athletes are handicapped by not being allowed to "win" b ecause it's not fair on the brainy weed. No one suggests that the brainy weed should be penalised for being clever!

AS for developing players for the future, wrong! the Champoinship is becoming a trainign ground for Prem wannabes, if you enjoy watching training games so be it.

and this isn't bitterness or jealousy, I half expected yesterdays result, well done.

GJ
I dont disagree about the numbers of DR's - 5 is still too many. I assume the players would be affiliated to just the one club and not moved around - there has to be stability.Even the most one eyed Notts supporter would have baulked at 22 DR's!! but judging by some ill informed postings on other sites you'd have thought we had.
I have to disagree to some extent with the championship being a training ground for the GP. We've just lost our 8th or 9th player (Du Plessis to Sarries) to the GP in the last 15 months, non of which were DR's but players that Glenn Delaney and staff have brought on in varying degrees.
Compare that with our long term DR's of recent seasons - only Matt Smith has made any impression, although Greg Tonks might be the next. No comparison really.

I half expected sundays result as well, but not based on Nottinghams ability to win it, more of Exeters ability to choke at vital times. Personally speaking I'd have preferred to exchange sundays result for the semi final defeat of 2008 as I think it would have improved our profile and development and be getting nearer to your model than we currently are.

Best of luck for the rest of the play offs.