Team news: Bristol Bears vs Vodacom Bulls

Kieran Marmion will make his first Champions Cup start for the club when the Bears take on Vodacom Bulls at Ashton Gate in the Investec Champions Cup on Saturday (3.15pm KO, live on TNT Sports).

The scrum half, who pulled off a heroic try-saving tackle against Sale Sharks last weekend, starts in the number nine shirt for Saturday’s showdown with the South African URC side.

Marmion is one of three changes from the side that inflicted a first home league defeat in 18 months on Sale Sharks last weekend, with Sam Grahamslaw in at loosehead and George Kloska coming in for the injured Kyle Sinckler.

On the bench, there’s a return for Virimi Vakatawa, who missed the trip to Salford through injury.

Director of Rugby, Pat Lam, said: “We’ve spoken all week about how we owe our home fans a performance – we were so disappointed with the result against Exeter but we’re relishing the opportunity in front of our record European crowd at Ashton Gate.

“This is a huge challenge for us against a Bulls side ranked number one for attack in the URC, so we’ll have to be at our best, as one team, again this weekend.”

Bristol Bears to face Vodacom Bulls at Ashton Gate in the Investec Champions Cup on Saturday (3.15pm KO, live on TNT Sports):

15. Max Malins (26 apps), 14. Noah Heward (14 apps), 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (15 apps), 12. James Williams (32 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (31 apps), 10. AJ MacGinty (28 apps), 9. Kieran Marmion (14 apps); 1. Sam Grahamslaw (5 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (9 apps), 3. George Kloska (42 apps), 4. Josh Caulfield (17 apps), 5. Joe Batley (54 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (120 apps) (c), 7. Dan Thomas (141 apps), 8. Magnus Bradbury (35 apps).

System players: 16. Will Capon (83 apps), 17. Jake Woolmore (143 apps), 18. Max Lahiff (78 apps) 19. Joe Owen (2 apps), 20. Jake Heenan (103 apps), 21. Harry Randall (116 apps), 22. Virimi Vakatawa (11 apps), 23. Rich Lane (29 apps).

Unavailable: Ellis Genge, Yann Thomas, Kyle Sinckler, Harry Thacker, James Dun, Chris Vui, Santiago Grondona, Fitz Harding, Callum Sheedy, Siva Naulago.