NEC Harlequins continue their preparations for the start of the Zurich Premiership season by taking a 26-man squad to the South of France for the second of their pre-season fixtures. Beziers are the opposition with the game being played at Stade de Mediterrannee, which was used as a World Cup venue in 1999.

Nick Duncombe is a late withdrawal from the Quins squad after bruising his ankle in training. However, Quins have included Ben Gollings and Pat Sanderson, the other members of England's Commonwealth Games squad, but once again travel without Alex Codling who is still suffering from a slight hamstring strain.

The evidence from Quins game in Glasgow would suggest that Codling's absence will not hinder the team's progress, who looked in good form in their match at Hughenden last Friday night, where they scored four tries and could have had at least four more.

Teenage winger Ugo Monye stands down from Friday's squad, as does former London Broncos forward Daryl Griffin, whilst Keith Wood is omitted from the line-up as he is with the Ireland training camp in Limerick. Paul Burke will join-up with the Irish squad soon after the game but will start at fly-half and will face old foe Gonzala Quesada opposite him. The Argentinean number ten has joined Beziers from local rivals Narbonne.



Beziers, who could only finish third in their pool behind Pontypridd and Leeds in last season's Parker Pen Shield, will be looking to impress at home ahead of taking part in this seasons Heineken Cup, where they begin their campaign at Calvisano in Pool 1; the same group as Leicester and Neath.

Beziers were narrowly defeated 24-22 at Grenoble last weekend in their first pre-season test in front of 800 spectators, with Sebastien Bonetti grabbing a late try converted by Dubois, who started ahead of Quesada and who added a further 15 points by kicking five penalties.

With the weather in France being exceptionally hot and likely to be a problem for the Quins, the visitors will be grateful for the evening kick-off as they attempt to lift the Bacchus Cup.

Quins team to face Beziers: 15. Nathan Williams, 14. Ben Gollings, 13. Will Greenwood, 12. Chris Bell, 11. Matt Moore, 10. Paul Burke, 9. Scott Bemand, 1. Bruce Starr, 2. Ace Tiatia, 3. Laurent Gomez, 4. Bill Davison, 5. Jim Evans, 6. Simon Miall, 7. Pat Sanderson, 8. Tony Diprose

Replacements:
16. Jason Leonard, 17. Pablo Cardinali, 18. Karl Rudzki, 19. Luke Sherriff, 20. Kai Horstmann, 21. Matthew Powell, 22. David Slemen, 23. Nick Greenstock, 24. Rob Jewell