And while Cov’s overall record is far better than that of their opponents, without a win all season and beaten 39-0 by Nottingham on Tuesday night, Maynard will take nothing for granted with Bees bedding in a number of new player after recuiting heavily before the deadline after their own finamcial restrictions were eased.

“We need a win, and they do too and they will have targeted this game, we are under no illusions about that,” said Maynard, whose squad secured a hard-earned 21-6 away win in their first meeting in November with Bees already in administration and Cov just two weeks away from joining them

“We’ve watched them carefully and they are a dangerous team if you let them.

“They have brought in some good players who have played at a high level, although they have got to gel as a team.

“But this is more about us than them, we have our own problems and demons to face and we have got to trust our players to come through in the end.”

Maynard welcomes back on-loan Sale No.8 Alex Shaw, who made a big impression in his first start against Bristol two weeks ago, and continues to search for his best combination outside the pack.

Ben Russell moves to fly-half, the position he held when he first came to the club, while Fangatapu Apikotoa goes to full-back and Romain Plantey returns to the wing after two runs in the 15 shirt.

Worcester loanee Ollie Frost starts at scrum-half and Mike Walls, who has been ill this week along with flanker Henno Venter, is on the bench after Nathan Jones was forced to put his return from injury on hold when he suffered a hamstring problem in training yesterday.

Rob Dugard gets a chance at loose head prop for rested Dai Maddocks, and Sam Herrington returns in the second row, with Louis McGowan going to the bench and Benjamin Dechartres ruled out by a dead leg.

“I’m pleased to have Alex back at No.8, it gives us the option of another ball carrier in the back row,” added Maynard.

“Looking at the way we have played lately, we know we need to manage the game better, and Ben can do that as well as being a bit more accurate with his kicking.Romain wanted to go back to the wing, and with Tommy Hayes on the bench we can always move things around as the situation dictates.”

Coventry: Apikotoa; Plantey, Mackenzie, C Lewis, J Lewis; Russell, Frost; Dugard, McMillan, Hall, Herrington, Brenton, Carpenter, Bignell, Shaw. Reps: Johnson, Hayes, Walls, Roberts, Dwyer, McGowan, Pons.

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