Ross Lavery, Oxford University's Varsity Match hero last year, must again be content with a place on the bench for the 124th renewal at Twickenham next Tuesday.

Tom Tombleson gets the nod ahead of Lavery at left wing, while Richard Graham is preferred to Chris Hadfield at lock.

South African No 8 Marcel Du Toit was not deemed fit enough to play after his knee injury, so the back row is the same as that which faced Leinster.

Captain Andy Dalgleish hailed the Dark Blues' strength in depth as he yesterday named his team to do battle for the MMC Trophy in what is the sponsor's 30th and final year.

He said: "Ross Lavery scored off the bench last year, so maybe he can do it again.

"He is a bit unlucky, but it shows our strength. Ross would have made their team."

Lavery went over for the winning try in Oxford's 18-11 victory 12 months ago, but Dalgleish said Tombleson had hit form at just the right time.

"Three weeks ago we were concerned that we weren't getting the best out of Tom," said Dalgleish.

"We told him that we needed him to step up and from then he has been our form player.

"He scored twice against Tonga and knows his way to the try line."

Oxford's starting line-up includes nine Blues, and Lavery will make that at least ten when they announce their replacements.

Flanker Doug Abbott has been Oxford's outstanding forward this season and will revert to No 6 after Dan Palm played there in the last three games.

Dalgleish said: "They both have different strengths.

"We felt that Dan has probably had some of his best performances in the seven shirt and Doug at six.

"We had to look at how we can get the best out of them."

Cambridge will start with two former Oxford players, hooker Joe Clark and lock Andrew Clements, who failed to gain a Dark Blues spot during their time at Iffley Road.

Former Cambridge man Pete Jenkins is likely to be Oxford's reserve scrum half.

The one controversial selection sees Cambridge giving South African loose head Jakobus Bosch his fourth Blue.

The prop, who turned 31 yesterday, is living and working in Reading while completing his M Phil in Medical Sciences.