Bristol could be forced to throw prop Mark Irish in as an emergency hooker in Sunday's final European Challenge Cup group match with Montpellier at the Memorial Stadium.

David Blaney – who was the club's only fit hooker with Mark Regan and Scott Linklater sidelined with a calf injury and Ryan Prosser (knee) out for the season – is doubtful after damaging his shoulder.

The Irishman is not due to take part in contact training or practise throwing in at the line-out until later this week.

But with academy players Ollie Hayes and Adam Bellamy not registered to play in Europe, head coach Hill could have no hookers available and could be forced to start Irish at No 2.

Hill said: "Mark Irish can stand in at hooker. A prop can normally stand in for a hooker in the scrum and do a pretty good job – the line-out is the problem.

"You have to expect the prop to know all the calls and get the accuracy in the line-out but Mark is the nearest we have to a hooker.

"He played hooker for 10 minutes and had one possibly two line-outs against Toulon and we won them both.

"We have to be quite simple when making our calls and maybe throw to the front. We won those line-outs but I wouldn't want to do that for 80 minutes."

Linklater has been named in Bristol's 24-man squad for the game with the Frenchmen but may not recover in time from a recent calf injury.

But Bristol are giving special treatment to Blaney as they bid to ensure the 29-year-old runs out at the Memorial Stadium this weekend.

"We are relying on David Blaney to come through another game. We had to take him off with 10 minutes to go against Toulon and he hasn't done too much training this week."

Bristol: Backs – L Arscott, T Arscott, E Barnes, G Beveridge, Nathan Brew, Neil Brew, A Jarvis, D Lemi, S Perry, L Robinson. Forwards – D Blaney, N Budgett, D Crompton, R Hogan, M Irish, S Linklater, R Pennycook, J Phillips, M Salter, R Sidoli, W Thompson, A To'oala, D Ward-Smith, R Winters.

Bristol fly-half Ed Barnes has been given a late birthday present after winning his first England Saxons call-up for the clash with Portugal at Edgeley Park a week tomorrow.

Barnes, who was 27 eight days ago, is only in his second full Guinness Premiership campaign after previously plying his trade with Plymouth and Bedford.

England Saxons – Forwards: N Catt (Bath), D Cole, J Crane (Leicester), P Dowson (Newcastle), T Mercey (Saracens), K Myall (Leeds), A Saull (Saracens), G Skivington (Wasps), J Ward, R Webber (both Wasps), D Wilson (Newcastle), B Woods (Leicester). Backs: N Abendanon (Bath), E Barnes (Bristol), N Cato (Saracens), A Goode (Saracens), A Powell (Saracens), H Ellis (Leicester), J Simpson (Wasps), M Smith (Leicester), D Waldouck (Wasps).

Ben Williams has joined Bridgwater and Albion on loan from Bath, where he is a member of the academy. Centre Williams, 19, has represented England at Under 16 and 18 level.