NORTH Midlands are set to welcome back Birmingham University back-row pair Fred Rodwell and Martin Poptani for their second group match in this season's RFU National Under 20 Championship against Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire at Nottingham's Beeston ground on Sunday (2.30pm).

Both were due to start in last Sunday's 32-27 defeat by Warwickshire but were for-ced to withdraw after they went down with flu.

Sunday's game was originally due to be played three weeks ago but was postponed at the request of NL&D who had difficulty in raising a side.

It is a game that neither side can afford to lose after both counties suffered de-feats in their opening games last weekend. NL&D were beaten 22-14 by Oxford Univeristy at Iffley Road.

North Midlands need to beat NL&D and also Oxford University in their final Midlands Group 'B' match at Moseley on March 5 if they are to progress to the national quarter-finals.

The North Midlands Under 20 squad is:

Backs -- Mark Coulson (Moseley), Tamasi Tanumi (Newport), Peter Nathan (Bir-mingham University), Sam Cook (Newport), Tom Lee (Old Saltleians), Perry Pudge (Worcester), Willoughby Badger (Worcester), Tom Bissell (Dudley Kingswinford), Rob Crawford (Bromsgrove), Luke Ward (Worcester), Ben Williams (Pertemps Bees).

Forwards -- Steven Head (Stourbridge), Rhydon Smith (Moseley), Dale Garner (Wor-cester), Shaun Earlem (Wor-cester), Alex Francis (Dudley Kingswinford), Neil Chivers (Dudley Kingswinford), Ja-mes Hinks (Bromsgrove), Tom Gregory (Moseley), Rob-ert Chivers (Dudley Kings-winford), Martin Poptani (Birmingham University), Lee Madelin (Moseley), Fred Rodwell (Birmingham University), Ed Lawrence (Bridgnorth).