Gunners Looking for Flying Start Against Ospreys

Hugo Southwell returns to the starting line-up after coming off the bench in last week's pre-season friendly at Edgeley Park, and prop Allan Jacobsen starts in the front row instead of Dave Hewett. Craig Smith comes onto the bench having recovered from a calf strain.

Henry Edwards, the interim head coach, said: "Hugo missed our first warm-up match but I can move him into the team with confidence in place of Ben Cairns who is injured. We just wanted a change in the front row and this is a great opportunity for Allan.

"We are in the best possible shape for the first league match, and are focussed on starting this season just like the last one, with a win away from home"

Unavailable due to injury: Ben Cairns (dead leg), Simon Cross (thumb), and Simon Taylor (knee).

15 Hugo Southwell
14 Chris Paterson (captain)
13 Marcus Di Rollo
12 Rob Dewey
11 Simon Webster
10 Phil Godman
9 Mike Blair *

1 Allan Jacobsen
2 Dougie Hall
3 Alasdair Dickinson *
4 Matt Mustchin
5 Scott Murray
6 Alasdair Strokosch *
8 Allister Hogg *
7 Ross Rennie

Substitutes
16 Andrew Kelly *
17 Craig Smith
18 Fergus Pringle
19 David Callam *
20 Greig Laidlaw
21 Duncan Hodge
22 Mike Pyke