Strong side needed to overcome Stade

THE importance of Leeds Carnegie's mouthwatering fixture with Stade Francais tomorrow has been emphasised by the strong line-up the Yorkshire club have named.

Keen to take what would be a notable scalp in the French club and also to re-enter the Premiership campaign with some momentum, Andy Key and Neil Back have selected a team full of top-flight experience.

Nine changes have been made to the starting XV which defeated Bucaresti Oaks last Saturday with only Michael Stephenson, James Tincknell, Luther Burrell, Warren Fury, Gareth Hardy and Tom Denton retained from the side that travelled to the Romanian minnows.

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England pair Steve Thompson and Hendre Fourie return alongside club captain Marco Wentzel, while Lachlan Mackay begins his first game for the club at fly-half. The New Zealander has been out since the opening game of the season with a shoulder injury.

"We are pleased to welcome back Steve, Hendre and Marco; their experience will be crucial against a team like Stade Francais," said director of rugby Key, who has given Jonathan Pendlebury a start in the back row.

"We are also pleased to see Lachlan come back from injury. His time at the club has been hugely frustrating through injury but he has worked hard with our medical team to get back fit and we are delighted to have him back in action this week.

"It is a huge challenge and has really got the whole camp excited. Headingley and Yorkshire should be looking forward to this one.

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"Stade Francais are one of the top teams in world rugby and have quality throughout their side.

"They'll be licking their wounds because they're not used to being in this competition, they want to be in the Heineken Cup.

"They play an attractive brand of rugby that I am sure our supporters will enjoy.

"Having said that, we are looking to show what we can do on Sunday and build on the momentum gained from our victory over Bucharest.

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"It's a great challenge for us, a great test of where we are and will hopefully springboard us into the next two weeks of Premiership rugby."

Fifth-placed Wharfedale can close the gap on the National One pace-setters when they visit Cambridge today, a side who are making a mockery of their financial problems by sitting second.

Injuries rule out Ben Hooper and Ben Sowery for head coach Tommy McGee, who names Mark Chivers and Ian Larkin in their place. In the backs, Andrew Lovatt's late try last week earns him preference over Chris Black.

Otley can put distance between themselves in third bottom and second-bottom Redruth when the Cornwall side visit today. Director of rugby Gary Walker has named a strong side with Stephen Depledge and Jervis Manupenu set to play a pivotal role in the half-back axis.