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Wales prop Sisilia Tuipulotu will make her first Celtic Challenge appearance when she packs down for Brython Thunder on Sunday.
The tighthead has been released by Gloucester-Hartpury and is among seven Wales internationals in the Thunder side to face reigning champions Wolfhounds in Belfast (12:00 GMT).
Hooker Shanelle Williams, scrum-half Ffion Lewis and centre Gabby Healan also start amid four changes from the narrow 15-12 defeat by Clovers last weekend.
Thunder are bottom of the table and without a win, while Wolfhounds have won three from three.
Thunder head coach Ashley Beck said: “The Irish sides have dominated this league and we know playing them on their own patch will be a major test but it’s one we are excited about.
“We know we have to produced the same physicality we did in our last game and show the same competitive edge against the best team in the Celtic Challenge.
“We are all excited about the prospect of Sisilia wearing the Brython Thunder jersey for the first time and she will bring a wealth of Test match experience to the side.”
Gwalia Lightning return home on Saturday fresh from an impressive 38-19 victory in Glasgow last weekend.
They have made four changes, including one positional switch, for the visit of Edinburgh to Ystrad Mynach (13:00 GMT).
Wales’ Caitlin Lewis comes into the wing so Nikita Prothero shifts to full-back. Katie Bevans gets the nod at scrum-half with flanker Lily Terry the only change to the pack.
Lightning are second in the table with two wins from three, while Edinburgh are fifth with their sole victory coming against Glasgow.
Lightning head coach Catrina Nicholas-McLaughlin said: “We were satisfied with our bonus point win on the road in Glasgow but there is still plenty to work on to realise the full potential of this young and exciting Gwalia Lightning squad.
“Edinburgh are always a challenge and travel to Wales with a squad of internationals but this is all about our performance and how we keep the momentum we have so far during this campaign.”
Celtic Challenge 2025-2026
20 December – 29 March
Watch all Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder games live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app
How they line up
Gwalia Lightning (v Edinburgh): Prothero; Greenway, Webster, Anderson-Thomas, Lewis; Hughes, Bevans; Davies, Reardon, Hill, Pyrs, Vucaj, erry, Owen, King (capt)
Replacements: Crabb, Cuming, Scoble, Stewart, Buffery Latham, Hawkins, McMullen, Hesketh.
Brython Thunder (v Wolfhounds): A Williams; Neumann, Healan, Bluck, Singleton; Marshall, Lewis; Orrin, Williams, Tuipulotu, Crabb (capt), John, Rogers, Isaac, Metcalfe
Replacements: Bowden, Jones, Watkins, Davies, Jones, F Williams, Griffin, Tromans.
