Paul Hull is mixing things up for Bristol's Championship clash with Rotherham tomorrow, making a staggering nine changes to the side that won at Birmingham & Solihull.

Bristol Rugby laboured to a 40-36 win at Sharmans Cross Road a week ago – and the head coach has reacted by making sweeping changes for tomorrow's visit of Rotherham.

Out go Tom Arscott, Lee Robinson, Luke Eves, Mark Irish, David Blaney, Wayne Thompson, Mariano Sambucetti, Redford Pennycook and Dan Montagu.

And in come Luke Arscott, Mat Turner, Junior Fatialofa, Alex Clarke, David Blaney, Darren Crompton, Iain Grieve, James Merriman and Bertrand Bedes, who will make his competitive club debut.

There is also one notable positional switch, with Hull moving flanker James Phillips up to the second row, where he will partner Roy Winters.

Locks Nathan Budgett and Josh Brown are both ruled out through injury – and Hull wants to ensure he has enough depth across his squad.

"We've got flexibility in our squad – we've got players who can play in a number of positions," said Hull.

"Luke Arscott can play full-back, centre or even fly-half; Tom Arscott was a winger but can also play full-back and centre – and we've got people in the forwards who can move around.

"We will always try a few players in different positions to make sure we've got that depth covered, because it's a small squad but it's a versatile squad."

Veteran prop Crompton has earned his first start of the season – and the 37-year-old has been happy to watch the progress of fellow tighthead Thompson so far this season.

"Wayne has done very well this season, which is ideal," said Crompton.

"The more competition you've got in each position, the better the squad is going to do – and you need at least two players in each position."

And despite some below-par performances, Crompton is more than happy to see Bristol up with the Championship leaders having taken nine points from a possible 10.

"Two wins from two is not too bad but there's always stuff to work on," he said.

"It's nice to be in the position we're in. We're going to be working on things all season, so to have nine points from 10 is a good start. And three from three would be all right – we wouldn't moan about that.

"I've played in this league before and I know it's a competitive league. Now with the play-off system, everyone is trying to get into that top eight at the end of the season.

"It's very different to how it has been in the past, because if you're in the top eight you've got everything to play for."

Rotherham were dealt a blow in the lead-up to the match when on-loan centre Luther Burrell was recalled by parent club Leeds for their match against London Irish.

Bristol Rugby: L Arscott; M Turner, J Adams, J Fatialofa, D Norton; A Jarvis, J Spice (capt); A Clarke, R Johnson, D Crompton, J Phillips, R Winters, I Grieve, J Merriman, B Bedes. Reps: D Blaney, W Thompson, M Sambucetti, D Montagu, R Shaw, M Davies, L Eves.

Rotherham: B Hunt; P Wackett, A Henderson, N Buckley, M Farmer; J West, N Chivers; J Kilbane, R Batty, B Prescott, S Dickinson, G Hayter, A Barnes, T du Plessis, R Burrows. Reps: N Conroy, C Quigley, M Challinor, J Skurr, M Rhodes, T Allen, A O'Donnell.