Harlequins prop Lewis Boyce gets his first start of the season in Saturday's Premiership Cup opener at Bath.
The 22-year-old from Middlesbrough, a graduate of the Leeds Carnegie academy, arrived at Quins last season after hardening up in the Championship playing against the big boys.
He is already on the radar of England coach Eddie Jones, having been part of a training camp in Portugal ahead of the last Six Nations, and says his time in tier two did him the world of good.
“It gets a bit dirty at the bottom of the rucks and it is a full-on league to learn, especially for a young forward,” said Boyce (above).
“You are playing Under-18s when you are the bully boy and get your own way, but in the Championship you are playing with men. You go from being a big fish in a small pond to the other way round.
“It is bit slower than the Premiership, but it is up there in physicality.”
Quins have rung the changes and Mark Mapletoft, assistant coach to head of rugby Paul Gustard, will be in charge at The Rec.
Jack Clifford gets his first start of the season at No8 after 39 minutes off the bench against Grenoble last weekend. Before that the 25-year-old was out for six months with a torn hamstring.
Fly-half Demetri Catrakilis also gets his first run-out, with Marcus Smith rested, and Paul Lasike on the bench.
Lasike, the New Zealand-born USA Eagle was concussed 10 minutes into the game against Saracens three weeks ago.
