DORSET & Wilts' senior rugby side kick off their 2015 RFU County Shield campaign against Middlesex at Ealing Trailfinders RFC on Saturday.

The Twin Counties are twice past winners of the competition, beating both Leicestershire and Surrey in successive seasons in 2010 and 2011 at Twickenham to lift the trophy.

New team manager Matt Pallas said: “Both myself and head coach Don Parsons are well impressed with the effort from the lads who have turned out at Salisbury in all of our training so far but, the hard work begins in earnest this weekend in Ealing.''

“We haven’t been drawn against Middlesex for a few years; however one thing I am sure of is that they will be tough opponents and the side that adapts to county rugby first will have a big advantage.''

Royal Wootton Bassett flanker Dave Hogg skippers the side, with his clubmates, prop Gary Williamson also included and Gavin Ougan on the bench.

Swindon flanker Mike Thompson also packs down in the back row, with Bradford on Avon's John King and Marlborough's Amori Nailago also among the replacements.

The head coaches of Devizes and Bassett, John Kimberley and Alan Low, are among the Wiltshire coaching staff, as is ex-Swindon coach Neil Loader.

The Twin Counties welcome Essex to Trowbridge RFC next Saturday (May 19) before hosting Hampshire in their final pool game in Dorset the week after

Dorset & Wilts (v Middlesex): 15 Tom Lane (Sherborne), 14 Tom Scott (Salisbury), 13 Matt Roberts (Swanage & Wareham), 12 Rob Larcombe (Salisbury), 11 Charlie Rowberry (Swanage & Wareham), 10 Charlie Parish (Swanage & Wareham), 9 Dave Tongue (Salisbury), 1 Nick Audley (Swanage & Wareham), 2 Luke Esnouf (Salisbury), 3 Gary Williamson (Royal Wootton Bassett), 4 Tom Ranabaldo (Salisbury), 5 Liam Gilbert (Salisbury), 6 Dave Hogg (Royal Wootton Bassett, captain), 7 Mike Thompson (Swindon), 8 Steve King (Wimborne).

Replacements: 16 Jack Padfield (Sherborne), 17 Tyler Adams (Wimborne), 18 Rob Best (Wimborne), 19 Gavin Ougan (Royal Wootton Bassett), 20 John King (Bradford on Avon), 21 Theo Daniel (Salisbury), 22 Amori Nailago (Marlborough).