The hooker slots into the front row with Max Hayman absent with a back niggle ahead of what would have been his 100th cap.
Austin is one of four changes to the starting line-up, the props from the off again swapped as Paddy Harris and timeless James Baker get the nod against Club.
Blind-side flanker Ben Atkins takes over the captaincy for the first time and is joined in an unchanged back row by Mikey Duda and No. 8 Willo Bicknell, with locks Connor Stapley and Harry Stone also remaining in situ following their superb displays at Clifton.
Scrum-half Ed Hoadley was excellent on his first National One start in more than 13 months in the 21-14 triumph in Bristol last time out, while Mike Cooke remains ever-present outside him.
Grundy starts at outside centre
Morgan MacRae’s double helped the new inside centre make it eight tries in seven appearances since his transition from the pack, and he has a new colleague in midfield in the form of Rowan Grundy – Axel Kalling-Smith on international duty with Sweden.
The switch is the only one among the three-quarters, with Luke Graham, fresh from scoring his fifth try in three games at Clifton, on the right wing, Charlie Robson on the left and Zach Clow completing the line-up at full-back.
Available from the bench are props Ant Marris and Ryan Lomas, who enjoyed significant scrum dominance last week, along with summer signing Aaron Tull, the dynamic young ex-Bristol Bears back row.
Hat-trick hero Rhoads returns to bench
Scrum-half Ollie Hodgson could collect a 20th cap, while Oli Rhoads is capable of playing in midfield or on the wing and is in top form following a hat-trick for the Development XV against Chinnor Under 23s recently.
Four travelling reserves are included in case of any late issues, prop George Breese able to play on both sides of the scrum.
Hooker Harry Bicknell is then joined by second/back row Liam Elston and Andrew Lamb, the latter equally at ease at fly-half or full-back.
Rams Team v Blackheath
(15-9, 1-8) Clow, Graham, Grundy, MacRae, Robson, Cooke, Hoadley; Harris, Austin, Baker, Stapley, Stone, Atkins ©, Duda, Bicknell
Replacements: Marris, Lomas, Tull, Rhoads, Hodgson
Travelling Reserves: Breese, Bicknell, Elston, Lamb
