BRISTOL SHOGUNS head coach Peter Thorburn has named a 24-man squad for the crunch relegation clash against Saracens at Vicarage Road on Tuesday, kick-off 7.45.

Thorburn, who appointed Buck Shelford as captain during their seven-year- tint together at New Zealand provinvincial side, North Harbour, welcomes back Argentine prop Emiliano Bergamaschi to the squad that were defeated by London Wasps in their last outing as Bristol look to move off the foot of the table.

Bergamaschi's fellow countryman Felipe Contepomi will be hoping to continue his return to first-team action after making his comeback against Wasps, while former Saracen Brendon Daniel, who scored his eighth Premiership try of the season against Wasps, is expected to make his second start after recovering from a broken thumb.

"It's very disappointing to be down here," said Bristol skipper Gareth Archer, on the club's precarious league position. "Just after Christmas, we looked like we had a decent chance of getting into the top half of the table and qualifying for a place in Europe for next year."

Squad: Paul Johnstone, Andrew Sheridan, Chris Rowland, Emiliano Bergamaschi, Saul Nelson, Richard Skuse, Garath Archer (c), Scott Morgan, Alex Brown, Michael Lipman, Rhys Oakley, Craig Short, Matt Salter, Peter Richards, Agustin Pichot, Shane Drahm, Felipe Contepomi, Phil Christophers, Daryl Gibson, Andrew Higgins, Brendon Daniel, Matt Carrington, Jamie Williams, Lee Best.

April 28, 2003 13:01