The only personnel change from the side that eased to a 55-7 victory against Newbold on Avon last weekend sees Michael Stephens coming onto the bench for Chris Thompson, whilst Kurtis Payne swaps the No.1 shirt for the No.16 jersey with Joe Foreman.

Although as yet unbeaten this season and sitting top of the Midlands Premier division, Birmingham & Solihull will be under no illusions about the threat that Newport (Salop) will pose.

Currently lying third in the league, the Shropshire side have been beaten just twice this season – away at Sandbach last weekend (26-21) and at home to Nuneaton (12-17) - narrow losses, which gained them losing bonus points on both occasions.

Newport’s six wins to date have been notched up away at Lichfield (24-76), Newbold (13-62), Scunthorpe (18-52) and Old Halesonians (17-62), whilst home successes have come against Longton (45-0) and, notably, against Peterborough Lions (41-21).

Not only are Newport third in the league (on 32 points, 3 points adrift of second placed Peterborough and 7 points behind the Bees) but they are also only second to the Bees in terms of points scored and conceded. Whilst the Bees have both the highest points scored (397) and the most miserly defence (just 104 points conceded), Newport Salop are next in line with 371 and 131, for and against respectively.

Although the two sides didn’t face each other last season, the three encounters in the 2015/16 season further suggest that a tight game is in the offing at Forton Road this Saturday. Spoils were shared in the league games, with Newport edging out their hosts 31-34 at Portway in October 2015, with the Bees victorious in another tight game which ended 5-18 in Birmingham & Solihull’s favour in January 2016.

The two sides met again in that May in the North Midlands Cup Final – the Bees lifting the trophy on the basis of the most tries scored, after the scores were level at 20-20 when the full -time whistle blew.

The Hornets join their first team colleagues on the coach trip on Saturday, taking on Newport Salop 2nds in the Midlands Reserve League fixture.

Bees squad v Newport Salop (A, 2.15pm KO): - 1. Kurtis Payne, 2. Zane Raimondi, 3. Matt Probert, 4. Andy Weaver, 5. Matt Spink, 6. Danny Wright, 7. Ashley Scriven, 8 Umraan Jadwatt, 9. Jack Jolly ©, 10. Max Rodman, 11. Tawanda Chipadza, 12. Nathan Tilsley, 13. Steve Johns, 14. JT Nabetelevu, 15. Harry O’Brien, 16. Joe Foreman, 17. Michael Stephens & 18. Jack Secher.

Referee: - Owen Taylor

Hornets squad v Newport Salop (A, 2.15pm KO): - 1. George Radburn, 2. Jamie Domachi, 3. Harry Smith, 4. Reece Donaldson, 5. Keenan Cooper, 6. Jacob Lisle, 7. Sam Allen, 8. Chris Thompson ©, 9. Sean O’Sullivan, 10. Jamie Maynard, 11. Cameron May, 12. Joe Cave, 13. Jimmy Oliver, 14. Diaba, 15. Ben Cooper, 16. Freddie Portykus, 17. Matti Collier, 18. Pete Logan, 19. Piers Dyer, 20. Jake Ngatchu, 21. Harry Barnes & 22. Ace Summers.

Sat Nav TF10 8BU