Rams will field two different starting line-ups in either half for the games played under the adapted rules meaning no scrums or mauls, with experienced duo Craig Nightingale and Stevie Bryant leading Rams Blues and Reds respectively.

A total of 16 players are in line for their club debuts alongside some of our talented youngsters and some more senior players, and Seb said: “While we haven’t had rugby in the past 14 months, we have had new additions and young players come through and they’ve been some of the most exciting things.

“We want to try and give these guys an opportunity to show what they can do to become part of this team and they’ve been first class in training. They’re a great group of guys and we’re really excited to see them go out there on Saturday.

“It will be great to be back – there’s been a lot of waiting and false dawns – on two occasions (the league and National Cup) we’ve had fixtures lined up and then cancelled – but hopefully nothing occurs in the next 24 hours and we can get here for 3pm on Saturday.”

The Blues team front row is made up of new boy Ed Martin, a former Berkshire Under 20s star, Max Hayman and Ross Crame, with two debutants filling the second row in the shape of Exeter University graduate Paul Schroter and ex-Oxford University captain, Fergus Taylor.

Skipper Nightingale is joined in the back row by Liam Goodison, who switches from neighbours Henley, and Roan Noone, a Rams Colt who will make his first Senior start.

New recruit Sam Boyland, formerly of Clifton, is partnered by talented young stand-off Rowan Grundy in the half-backs, while Connor Hayhow and Terence Babarinsa – who scored in both games for Cinderford against us last season – form a useful midfield.

There are two more players making their first start in the back three, with Wasps Senior Academy player Toby Baldwin on the left wing and South African Josh Hart – previously playing in France – at No. 15. Joe Bridger is on the right flank to complete the side.

The bench features stalwart Rory Paxton along with Josh Glanville, Jack Norris, new signing Steffan James, Joe Booth and Mikey Vancura.

Another debutant, Ian Brown, starts in the Reds front row along with Paul Englezos and Ollie Moffitt, with fit-again Omar Ellaboudy and Colin Thomson behind them in the pack.

Josh Collis is joined in the back row by another pair of exciting debutants – ex-Horsham and Hartpury College open-side Vince Everitt and No. 8 James McRae, who has previously been with Exeter Chiefs and Cornish Pirates before taking up a teaching role at his Alma Mater, Eton College.

Army man Iggy Putty starts at scrum-half with Louis Ellis outside, and new recruit Mike Annells, another Exeter University alumni, partners captain Scuba in the centres.

Will James makes his first start on the wing, with Adam Porter and full-back Kieran Leicester – who enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2019/20 – completing the line-up.

Paxton, Glanville and James will again be on the bench, this time joined by Saope Sako and the final debutant, Ollie Monye, who is also part of the Wasps Academy and a product of The Oratory School.

Paying tribute to his two captains, Seb said: “Craig and Stevie are first-class Rams who will be looking after the youngsters, the likes of Roan who has come through all the way through the Minis and Juniors to make his Senior debut, so it will be good.”

And Seb lastly reflected on what it will mean to have the Ramily back – albeit in limited numbers – at Old Bath Road.

He concluded: “We’ve never experienced something like the past 14 months before – if someone had said a couple of years ago you won’t have rugby for that time it would have been completely unforeseen and unheard of.

“But it’s happened and what it’s allowed us to do is appreciate how much we love the game and being around each other, and to have supporters back on Saturday will be a really nice moment.”

Rams Blues (15-9, 1-8): Hart, Bridger, Babarinsa, Hayhow, Baldwin, Grundy, Boyland; Martin, Hayman, Crame, Schroter, Taylor, Nightingale ©, Goodison, Noone.

Replacements: Paxton, Glanville, Norris, S James, Booth, Vancura.

Rams Reds (15-9, 1-8): Leicester, Porter, Bryant ©, Annells, W James, Ellis, Putty; Englezos, Brown, Moffitt, Ellaboudy, Thomson, Collis, Everitt, McRae.

Replacements: Paxton, Glanville, Soko, S James, Monye.