Lee Millar will make his first start at outside centre on Sunday against Bedford Blues as London Scottish look to bounce back from defeat against Exiles rivals London Welsh a fortnight ago.
The 22-year-old fly-half takes over from in-form 13 Mike Doneghan who has picked up a leg knock.
Millar joined the Club last summer from Scottish Premiership outfit Gala and has been competing for the number 10 jersey with Dan Newton.
However this Sunday at the Athletic Ground, 2pm kick-off, London Scottish fans will get a chance to see Millar playing in an unaccustomed position.
“I am quite excited to see how Lee goes,” Head Coach James Buckland said this week.
“Both Dan (Newton) and Lee are really exciting ball players who have done well for us this season.
“We have talked about Lee playing centre all year and you saw with his try against London Welsh last time out that he is really keen to get the ball in hand and play.
“We do need to talk to him about running fewer hard lines because he does like to run through brick walls.
“But there will be a big bloke next to him (PJ Gidlow) who can do that for him which will free Lee up.”
Scottish hopes of finishing in the end of season play-offs were all but ended last month by London Welsh as they suffered just their second home league defeat of the season.
This Sunday they will look to return to winning ways against Bedford Blues, a side they lost to, 21-13, on New Year’s Day.
Buckland continued: “The lads were pretty disappointed after the London Welsh game but they have had a tough season and it is a case of staying as fresh as possible and trying to go out with a bang.
“We are not a team that wants to fizzle out in the last three games. We will work really hard to stay in fifth and do our best to get three good results.”
He added: “That match on New Year’s Day was a huge physical encounter at Goldington Road.
“Bedford gave us a real lesson. They trapped us in our half and we bent under the pressure.
“Sunday will be a more free flowing game, the sun will be out and the conditions will be good.”
Elsewhere in the starting XV, Pete Homan comes in for the injured James Love on the right wing whilst USA Eagles scrum half Robbie Shaw returns from international duty to take his place in the starting line-up.
Listen to Head Coach James Buckland’s full audio interview here.
Listen to backs coach Mike Friday’s radio interview here.
1878 (centre stand) tickets are sold out for this clash but Highlander (wing of stand) and Clan (standing) tickets are still available to buy online here or by calling the ticket office on 020 3397 9551.
Tickets can also be bought at the gate on the day.
Under-16s can get in for free.
London Scottish squad to play Bedford Blues on Sunday April 13th at Richmond Athletic Ground, 2pm kick-off.
15, Jim Thompson; 14, Pete Homan; 13, Lee Millar; 12, PJ Gidlow; 11, Miles Mantella; 10, Dan Newton; 9, Robbie Shaw; 1, Jamie Kilbane; 2, Adam Kwasnicki; 3, Tomas Francis; 4, Tyler Hotson; 5, Dave Lyons; 6, Neil Best; 7, Matt Everard; 8, Mark Bright (c).
Replacements: 16, Tedd Stagg; 17, George Hunter; 18, Lewis Thiede; 19, Tommy Spinks; 20, Sam Stuart; 21, Andy Reay; 22, Dante Mama.
Unavailable due to injury: Chevvy Pennycook, Mark Irish, Jamie Stevenson, Mike Doneghan, James Love, Lewis Calder, Oli Grove, Ben Russell.
