By Quinten Poulsen
November 13 2010

On Sunday Harlequins host Newcastle for the second time this season in the second round of games in the LV= Cup – not everyone's cup of tea as a competition, but a great chance to watch many of our talented home-grown youngsters in action.

The format of this competition has many critics. Four pools of four teams with four games for each club seems simple enough, although the clubs in each pool don't play against each other. In this year's competition the teams from pool 1 play against those in pool 4, with pool 3 sides against those in pool 2. While it may seem a little silly at first glance it is a simple way of ensuring all teams have two home games, and the obvious financial implications that come attached.  In short, do better than the other teams in your pool and you go through to the semi finals; and let's not forget that the competition winner is guaranteed a place in the following season's HEC.

Conor O'Shea said after last week's great win at Welford Road that he would rest some players and that some of the youngsters would get a chance. So true to his word this weekend's team shows a nice blend of youth with a smattering of experience. Ross Chisholm will be looking to pick up where he left off against Calivieri, when he scored two tries. The full back is joined by wingers Sam Smith and George Lowe – no lack of try scorers there then. Ollie Smith gets another chance to find some of his form from his days at Tigers and plays outside new captain, Tom Casson. The inside centre has looked in good form this season and another good showing will put a little more pressure on JTH. If Newcastle have done their homework they will need to defend stoutly in midfield if they want to contain Casson's strong running, and if he can emulate Jordan's offloading we should see him at the heart of our backline attack. Clegg gets a rare chance to step out from the shadow of Nev and will no doubt look to mix his often sublime passing with perhaps some more judicious kicking from hand than we're used to seeing from him. Dave Moore starts his first game at scrum half after some good performances in the A league.

Up front it's great to see both Marler and James Johnston return and I really hope we get to see them on the field together at some point, but JJ will need to come off the bench for that to happen. Brooker and Gray swap places again, with Brooker starting this week.  Joe Gray has shown some very encouraging signs in the few appearances he's made so far. His lineout throwing is crisp and accurate, plus he's got good hands in the loose and probably makes a few more yards than he has right to, being more of a Safri-Quin size than a Prof or Jammy Git! I'm not sure what his scrummaging is like, but this week see our two largest lumps in the second row – Kohn and Browne… surely providing plenty to debate on CAW after the match regarding the relative merits of powerhouse scrummagers v converted blindsides.

Maurie Fa'asavalu debuts at blindside and we'll get our first proper chance to see if JK's slightly intoxicated superlatives in the pub live up to expectations! Amazingly Chris York makes his first appearance this season, having played 11 times last season, and not a moment too soon. In the pre-season and for the A team he has looked stronger than ever, and while the weather may limit his noted athletic qualities this is an excellent chance for him to stamp his mark on a game from the start. Much will also be expected of Luke Wallace, and I'm sure he won't disappoint against a more experienced Newcastle back row.

This may be an opportune time to rest many first team players a week ahead of another big clash at Welford Road, but nevertheless this is still a game O'Shea and the coaches will be desperate to win, and represents a very serious chance for many players to progress. They may be very young on the whole but they need to demonstrate that they provide good squad depth and that the coaches can rely upon them to perform well when required, which I think they will do. Newcastle have one or two more first squad players than Quins but I expect a home win, and with a number of our players endearing themselves to the home crowd.