London Scottish coach Phil Greening expects Bristol to be fired up this Saturday when Third face Second in the Championship at Richmond Athletic Ground, 3pm kick-off.
Bristol’s 12-match unbeaten league run came to an end last Sunday at Cornish Pirates which allowed Worcester Warriors to claim top spot ahead of Andy Robinson’s side.
Greening feels Director of Rugby Robinson will have been reeling after conceding 45 points during the defeat at Mennaye Field and has prepared his side for a backlash this weekend.
Third placed Scottish go into the game in good form having picked up a third consecutive bonus point win last Saturday courtesy of their first win at Bedford Blues since promotion back to the Championship.
The win further boosted their play-off hopes, moving them six points clear of Nottingham in fourth and 14 points clear of fifth placed Rotherham.
Greening said: “Robbo (Andy Robinson) is a great coach whose attention to detail is fantastic and with what happened last week I know he will have been absolutely fuming.
“To leak 45 points is huge for them and they will have been massively disappointed.
“They will come here all guns blazing and we need to be wary of that but we are on a roll at the moment having picked up 15 points in our last three games.
“It will have been a tough week for Bristol and I’m hoping we can turn the screw and put more pressure on them by exerting our skill-set.
“It’s going to be my first home game at London Scottish so I’m looking forward to it.”
The Scots make three changes to the starting XV which defeated Bedford Blues last Saturday.
Bristol loanee Mark Lilley gets the chance to impress against his parent club, replacing James Hallam in the front-row.
He will pack down alongside former Scotland under-18 captain David Cherry who comes in for hooker Adam Kwasnicki.
In the back-row Chris Walker also makes a return to the starting XV in place of James Phillips.
Winger Miles Mantella, pictured, will look to continue his fine scoring form having crossed three times in as many games against Bristol this season.
Mantella is ninth in the Greene King IPA Championship try scoring charts with captain Mark Bright leading the way at the top of the ladder with 16 tries – six clear of his nearest rival.
Match tickets for Saturday's match start at just £12 for members and £15 for non-members and under-16s can get in for free (Clan, standing ticket). Book here.
Richmond Card holders (excluding Visitor Richmond Cards) can get into the game for £10 (one Clan, standing, ticket per card holder) whilst Aviva Premiership club season ticket holders can watch London's ONLY Championship club for just £5 (one Clan, standing, ticket per season ticket holder) if they present their season ticket at the gate.
The RBS Six Nations clash between France and Scotland, 5pm kick-off, will be shown in the bars after the game, so why not make it a double-header of rugby action!
Listen the Connor Braid's interview with local radio here.
London Scottish team to play Bristol Rugby at Richmond Athletic Ground on Saturday, February 7, 3pm kick-off.
15, Peter Lydon, 14, Matt Williams, 13, Matt Hawke, 12, Connor Braid, 11, Miles Mantella, 10, Dan Newton, 9, Jamie Stevenson, 1, Mark Lilley, 2, David Cherry, 3, Max Maidment, 4, Adam Preocanin, 5, Josh Thomas Brown, 6, Chevvy Pennycook, 7, Chris Walker, 8, Mark Bright (c).
Replacements: 16, James Hallam, 17, Adam Kwasnicki, 18, Ben Prescott, 19, Tai Tuisamoa, 20, Gregor Gillanders, 21, Matt Heeks, 22, Lee Millar.
