The duo are among four changes from last Saturday’s 26-17 victory against Dings Crusaders, with loanee hooker Spandler coming into the side on the back of a remarkable four-try haul for Bath United against England Under 20s last time out.
He is joined by squad ever-present Paddy Harris and Ryan Lomas in the front row, the tighthead restored to the starting line-up having been named man-of-the-match in the fixture between the two teams back in October.
The remainder of the pack remains the same from the Dings dust-up, captain Robbie Stapley paired with Dan Swain in the engine room, while Ben Atkins, Tom Vooght and James McRae complete the starting back row for the third time in four games.
Murray back
Harlequins loanee scrum-half Jake Murray returns from a week off the bench for London Scottish to take over the No. 9 jersey, leading Rams’ point-scorer this term Fraser Honey outside him.
Loughborough University student Pannese is rewarded for his patience and a string of fine displays for the Development XV as he gets a first cap alongside Axel Kalling-Smith in midfield, free-scoring wings Tomek Pozniak – who bagged an early brace last Saturday – and Zach Clow joined by Andrew Lamb in completing the starting line-up at Westleigh Park.
Experience and youth on bench
Experienced props Ant Marris (90 caps) and James Baker (429) have more than 500 first-team appearances between them and are ready to bring power to the set-piece, while young tyro Mikey Duda has continued to make strides this term.
Oli Rhoads made an encouraging debut off the bench against Crusaders on Saturday, while the squad is rounded out by scrum-half Ollie Cole, last week’s star man having played the full 80 minutes versus Dings and in line for a 125th cap.
Four travelling reserves head to Lions in the form of hooker Brad Clements, versatile young forward Harry Stone, No. 9 Ollie Hodgson and flying Jamaican wing Jack Rampton.
Rams Team @ Leicester Lions
(15-9, 1-8) Lamb, Clow, Kalling-Smith, Pannese, Pozniak, Honey, Murray; Harris, Spandler, Lomas, Stapley ©, Swain, Atkins, Vooght, McRae
Replacements: Marris, Baker, Duda, Rhoads, Cole
Travelling Reserves: Clements, Stone, Rampton, Hodgson
