By John Harding

BRISTOL know that they owe their supporters a barn-storming performance when they host Yorkshire Carnegie on Friday night, kick-off 7.45 pm, after a well below par performance against Jersey Reds in their last game at Ashton Gate.

Having battled in some near artic conditions in the Greene King IPA Championship at Clifton Lane last Saturday when they returned with a 24-3 victory to take them 14 points clear at the top of the table.

Bristol make three changes from that almost frost-bitten side with Tusi Pisi returning at inside centre, Dragons-bound Ryan Bevington comes in at loosehead prop while Nick Haining starts at blindside flanker.

“Our focus has been completely on building on last week, building on the work ethic and building on the attitude and character. We did it away from home, we’ve now got to do it at home,” said Bristol head coach Pat Lam.

"The northern teams, they’re tough guys and they’ve got some strength out wide as well. They opened us up a few times when we went up there as well. They haven’t played for three weeks, so they’ll be itching to get out there after their game was called off last week."

Dan Thomas, one of the most consistent players on the Bristol teamsheet since joining from Gloucester, starts at openside flanker after this week agreeing on a two-year contract extension to remain at Bristol until 2021.

Lam added: “Dan has been a good acquisition for the club and we know what a popular figure he is within the group and amongst supporters. His work-rate, skills and attitude during his first season has been exemplary and that’s been evident in his performances.

“The exciting thing for us is that Dan is still only 24 and has all the ingredients to be a world-class player. He is eager to learn and understands that, if we earn the promotion, he will need to keep developing his game to continue to make an impact in the Premiership.”

Friday night's game will see George Watkins, who scored 66 tries in his two spells at Bristol, will start on the wing for Yorkshire Carnegie while full back Chris Elder returns from a three-week ban for a tip tacking Hartpury's Iain Grieve, the former Bristol captain.

Callum Irvine returns at fly-half so Pete Lucock reverts to inside centre while Welsh international prop Craig Mitchell starts his first game for the club since joining on loan until the end of the season from Newport-Gwent Dragons.

Bristol (home v Yorkshire Carnegie, Friday 7.45 pm): L Morahan; R Edwards, S Piutau, T Pisi, A Leiua; I Madigan, R Williams; R Bevington, J Harris-Wright, G Cortes, J Joyce, J Latta, N Haining, D Thomas, J Crane (capt). Reps: N Fenton-Wells, S Tonga’uiha, J Lay, S Jeffries, A Uren, C Sheedy, J Williams.

Yorkshire Carnegie: C Elder; G Watkins, A Forsyth, P Lucock, S McColl; C Irvine, O Fox; M Thomas, J Buckle, C Mitchell, J Whetton, M Smith, B West, R Mayhew (capt), R Beck. Reps: M Mayhew, J Thraves, K Bryce, H Newborn, J Bainbridge, T Bullough, L Brown.