Bristol Shoguns will be looking to move up the table when they take on London Irish at the Memorial Stadium in the Zurich Premiership on Sunday.

The Shoguns are looking to build on last Sunday's 38-10 win over Newcastle and will be boosted by the return to the 22-man squad of both Ben Sturnham and David Rees.

Sturnham returns after a speedy recovery from a knee operation and replaces Academy star Chris Morgan in the 22.

Head coach Peter Thorburn said: "Chris was unfortunate to miss out. His improvement during the last few months has been impressive. Ben has been back in training for two weeks, and it's time for him to step up to the first team."

Former Zimbabwe international Paul Johnstone is set to continue in his newly adopted position of hooker. The front row forward has played prop for the Shoguns since 1999, but after Neil McCarthy's knee injury Johnstone made his debut at hooker in the Heineken Cup victory over Montferrand in October.

Both openside flanker Michael Lipman and centre Martin Shaw miss out through injury. Lipman misses out his second game since picking up a knock against the Sharks that he hasn't fully recovered from. Shaw has an Achilles injury that was first picked up a few weeks back.

Other players still missing include full back Jamie Williams, who is running well after a knee ligament injury and Andrew Sheridan who is also running and back doing weights. Club captain Ross Beattie is targeting a December return. Thorburn added: "Sherry's rehab is going well, as is Ross Beattie's."

The Shoguns will be without their Argentine half-back pairing of Pichot and Contepomi who will be on international duty against Italy this weekend. Peter Richards and Shane Drahm are set to come in.

Shoguns squad: Shane Drahm, Lee Best, Matt Carrington, David Rees, Phil Christophers, Andrew Higgins, Daryl Gibson, Brendon Daniel, Paul Hodgson, Peter Richards, Ben Sturnham, Matt Salter, Rhys Oakley, Craig Short, Alex Brown, Garath Archer, Richard Skuse, Darren Crompton, Saul Nelson, Emiliano Bergamaschi, Paul Johnstone, Scott Morgan