Pat Lam will send his strongest Bristol Bears side to Ampthill in the Premiership Rugby Cup on Saturday with a more developmental side picked to take on touring Super Rugby Pacific side the Queensland Reds on Friday night.

With 21 unavailable players due to injury or international call-ups, the Bears squad is set to be stretched to breaking point this weekend with nine invitational players and 13 academy players set to be used over the two games.

Lam explained: “With the short turnaround from Sunday’s game versus Newcastle to Friday, as well as 21 players injured or unavailable due to international call-ups, we’ve balanced the squads for this weekend’s games against Queensland Reds and Ampthill in the space of 24 hours.

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“With the way the season is structured, progressing in the Premiership Cup is important to ensure we have competitive fixtures in the four weeks leading up to facing Exeter Chiefs, so we are best prepared for that Gallagher Premiership clash on Saturday, March 22 ^nd .

“But this weekend is a great opportunity for every fit and available Academy player to pull on the Bears shirt, as well as some young and exciting invitational players who have been excelling for their clubs or BUCS universities.”

The game against the Reds kicks off at 7.45pm at Ashton Gate on Friday night.

Bristol Bears team to face Queensland Reds on Friday (7.45pm ko)

15. Elias Caven (Cambridge), 14. Solomon Taufa (Dings Crusaders), 13. Jacob Cusick (1 apps), 12. Gethin O’Callaghan (2 apps), 11. Harry Rowson (10 apps), 10. Harry Bazalgette (Hartpury), 9. Sam Wolstenholme (6 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (163 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (33 apps), 3. Max Lahiff (101 apps), 4. Ethan Surrey (2 apps), 5. Joe Owen (27 apps), 6. Paddy Pearce (10 apps), 7. Aaron Tull (7 apps), 8. Jake Heenan (c) (117 apps).

Replacements: 16. Tom Doughty, 17. Sam Grahamslaw, 18. Tom Sims (Dings Crusaders), 19. Brian Ncube (Dings Crusaders), 20. Will Ramply (Nottingham University), 21. *George Turner (Dragons TBC), 22. Matty Jones (Hartpury), 23. Dylan Power (Exeter University), 24. Josh Carrington (Cardiff Met).

The Queensland Reds 34-player touring squad

Lachie Anderson, Richie Asiata, George Blake, Angus Blyth, Joe Brial, John Bryant, Jock Campbell, Josh Canham, Filipo Daugunu, Massimo De Lutiis, Sef Fa’agase, Matt Faessler, Josh Flook, Frankie Goldsbrough, Mason Gordon, Alex Hodgman, Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott (co-captain), Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Fraser McReight, Heremaia Murray, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Hunter Paisami, Dre Pakeho, Tim Ryan, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Ryan Smith, Kalani Thomas, Seru Uru, Connor Vest, Louis Werchon, Harry Wilson, Liam Wright (co-captain)

Bristol Bears team to face Ampthill in the Premiership Rugby Cup on Saturday (2pm KO):

15. Benjamin Elizalde (13 apps), 14. Noah Heward (25 apps), 13. Kalaveti Ravouvou (21 apps), 12. Joe Jenkins (23 apps), 11. Deago Bailey (15 apps), 10. Harry Byrne (4 apps), 9. Kieran Marmion (41 apps); 1. Yann Thomas (c) (123 apps), 2. Will Capon (94 apps), 3. George Kloska (55 apps), 4. Josh Caulfield (28 apps), 5. Steele Barker (3 apps), 6. Santiago Grondona (9 apps), 7. Kofi Cripps (1 app), 8. Benjamin Grondona (15 apps).

Replacements: 16. Tomas Gwilliam (4 apps), 17. Andrew Turner (9 apps), 18. Jimmy Halliwell (9 apps), 19. Steven Luatua (144 apps), 20. Fitz Harding (87 apps), 21. Sam Edwards (3 apps), 22. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (40 apps), 23. Rich Lane (51 apps).

Unavailable players : 1Ellis Genge, Louie Trevett, Harry Thacker, Lovejoy Chawatama, Sam Scott,. James Dun,. Joe Batley, George Taylor, Kenzie Jenkins, Viliame Mata, Harry Randall, AJ MacGinty, Sam Worsley, Gabriel Ibitoye, Aidan Boshoff, James Williams, Toby Baker, Jack Bates, Siva Naulago, Toby Fricker, Max Malins.