WALES Under-21 cap Rhys Jones makes his debut at number eight for Newport against Borders at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

Jones, from Pencoed, was a member of the Wales Under-21 team at the World Cup in South Africa this summer and is a regular for the Newport junior side.

He is one of a string of changes Newport make for their final Celtic League pool game of the season against the newly-formed Scottish outfit.

Neither side can qualify for the knock-out stages, Newport rooted to the bottom of Pool B without a win and Borders just two places above them.

Newport appear to have decided to give greater emphasis to the Welsh League which starts next week which sees them entertain Caerphilly on Tuesday and visit Swansea a week Saturday.

Consequently, they hand a debut to Jones, pick a number of young backs and take the opportunity to give senior players a rest.

"With two league games next week, it's an opportunity for a couple of players who have been carrying knocks to throw them off and it's an opportunity for younger talent to show what they can do and put their hands up," said team manager Jim McCreedy.

Among those who stand down are skipper Simon Raiwalui, Shane Howarth, Andy Marinos, Matt Mostyn, Luke Nabaro, Ofisa Tonu'u, Rod Snow, Chris Anthony, Mike Voyle, Andrew Powell and Jason Forster, though some are on the bench.

Alex Cadwallader and Hal Luscombe, both 21, and Scott Williams, 20, feature in a young threequarter line, with Matt Pini, restored to full-back, captaining the side.

David Pattison, 22, makes his first start of the season at loose head prop, with Adrian Garvey returning from a neck injury at tight head.

Locks Raiwalui and Voyle have not missed a game this season, so Matthew Veater and Joe Powell step in. Luke Charteris, another promising youngster, could have started, but is out with a knee injury.

Youngster Chris Hill, a flanker from Cardiff and also part of the Under-21 side, is on the bench.

Team: M Pini (captain), A Cadwallader, H Luscombe, S Williams, A Wagstaff, J Strange, D Burn, D Pattison, P Young, A Garvey, M Veater, J Powell, S Ojomoh, R Jones, G Gravell. Replacements: N Palmer, S Howarth, L Lane, C Anthony, J Richards, S Raiwalui/M Voyle, C Hill. Kick off 2.30pm.