WARY of Hong Kong's attacking three-quarters, the Canadian rugby union side have made wholesale changes to their backline, who held on to win 35-27 a fortnight ago in the Pacific Rim Championship in the territory.
Canada head coach Pat Parfrey has brought in three players, including captain Gareth Rees, and also made two positional switches for this morning's (Hong Kong time) game at the University of British Columbia.
He has also introduced three new faces in the forwards as Canada continue to experiment with an eye on their World Cup campaign.
'The strength of the forwards will be pretty much the same as when we played in Hong Kong, but I think the backs will be better . . . we need to improve our three-quarters,' said Parfrey.
World Cup veteran Rees will return to the fly-half slot and will partner another World Cupper, Chris Tynan, in a new halves combination which Parfrey described as 'most experienced'.
The return of Rees - who missed the game in Hong Kong as he had to play for his English Courage League champions Wasps in an exhibition game against a World XV at Twickenham - will see deadly goalkicker Bob Ross move to full-back, in turn displacing regular Scott Stewart who moves to the left wing.
'We have to identify a second full-back in time for the World Cup. Our objectives in this tournament is to introduce new players and identify combinations,' said Parfrey.