Ealing Trailfinders are looking to kick on and take another step towards the quarter finals when they return to Championship Cup action this weekend, according to prop Jordan Els.

Ben Ward’s side have won all three of their Pool 1 matches so far and are looking to extend their unbeaten run in the competition when they host Bedford Blues.

Ealing come into the game off on the back of two commanding RFU Championship victories and confidence is high in the camp, but Els is nonetheless wary of the task ahead of them on Saturday against Bedford.

“Bedford are a very strong side so we’ll have to be at our best this weekend,” he said.

“Our priority is to get through to the Quarter Finals and we can do that with three strong performances in the next few weeks.

"Our last couple of wins have been really positive and we’re all in a good place to kick on with our defence of the Championship Cup.”

The Trailfinders, who have had an extra week to recover after their 24-9 win over Doncaster, have also been boosted by the return of a number of players to the matchday squad.

Els is back in the starting line-up alongside Matt Cornish and Elliot Millar Mills, with Sam Dickinson and James Cannon in the second-row.

Elsewhere, Andrew Durutalo, Jordy Reid and captain Rayn Smid continue their back-row combination.

Nathan Fowles is back at scrum-half with Craig Willis at fly-half, in front of the midfield partnership of Harry Sloan and David Johnston.

Reon Joseph and Elijah Niko keep their places on the wing, with Tommy Bell at full-back.

Will Davis, Alun Walker and Craig Trenier offer a front-row alternative on the bench, while Ben West and Kieran Murphy are joined by Shane Buckley who will look to make his first appearance of the season.

Craig Hampson provides scrum-half back-up, and Lewis Jones completes the squad.