London Welsh first XV captain Mike Powell returns to the starting line-up for Sunday’s clash with league leaders Leeds Carnegie at Headingley.

Powell came off the bench during the Dragons National Trophy round four win over Newbury Blues last Saturday at Old Deer Park.

Powell is one of four changes to the starting XV made by head coach Danny Wilson for the trip to unbeaten Leeds, who ran out 38-0 winners when the sides met at Old Deer Park last October.

The other changes see Paul Mackey and Allen Chilten return at inside centre and scrum half respectively, while Wasps’ Michael Holford comes in at prop.

Powell takes the place of Wame Ratu Lewaravu in the second row who in unavailable due to illness, while there’s a place on the bench for Worcester’s Greg King.

“Leeds away is our toughest game of the season and we need our most experienced players out there,” said Wilson.

“We’re going in to the match off the back of three good wins, so we go to Leeds with some confidence.

“However, we know we are underdogs and that it’s going to take our best performance of the season to beat them at Headingley.

"But we are capable of producing such a performance and that’s the challenge.

“Leeds are unbeaten all season but, if we can produce a top-class performance, and they’re slightly off their game, then we could pinch something. They are going to lose a game, so why can’t it be against us?”

London Welsh team to face Leeds Carnegie:

15. Mark Harris 14. Paul Sampson 13. Peter Murchie 12. Paul Mackey 11. Michael Tagicakibau 10. Aled Thomas 9. Allen Chilten 1. Michael Holford 2. Sunia Koto Vuli 3. Paul Doran Jones 4. Matt Corker 5. Mike Powell (capt) 6. Jonathan Mills 7. Tom Audley 8. Tom Brown.

Replacements: 16. Gavin O’Meara 17. Aaron Liffchak 18. Nathan Bonner-Evans 19. Robert Bell 20. Nick Runciman 21. Greg King 22. Ed Lewis-Pratt