Nick Easter will spearhead England's final preparations for next month's tour to New Zealand after being named captain for Sunday's clash against the Barbarians at Twickenham. The Harlequins forward is one of nine capped players included in an experimental England side.

A sizeable contingent from Leicester and Wasps were not considered due to Saturday's Guinness Premiership final between the clubs, while no Bath players are involved following their European Challenge Cup victory last weekend. Easter is joined in the England line-up by his Quins colleagues Will Skinner and David Strettle, while World Cup backs Mathew Tait and Toby Flood team up in midfield.

There is an opportunity at fly-half for Charlie Hodgson, who will be eager to press his claim for England's No10 shirt in the absence of Danny Cipriani and Jonny Wilkinson, who are recovering from operations.

Topsy Ojo, the London Irish wing, is the solitary uncapped player in the back division, but the only senior England internationals up front are Easter, Gloucester's Luke Narraway and Sale Sharks lock Chris Jones.

The front row is an untried combination of Nick Lloyd, David Paice and Jason Hobson. Dylan Hartley, the highly-rated Northampton hooker, must content himself with a place on the bench. Hartley was on course to make England's World Cup squad last year but was banned for six months for gouging.

Full squad: M Brown (Harlequins); T Ojo (London Irish), M Tait (Newcastle), T Flood (Newcastle), D Strettle (Harlequins); C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks); N Lloyd (Saracens), D Paice (London Irish), J Hobson (Bristol), C Jones (Sale Sharks), N Kennedy (London Irish), L Narraway (Gloucester), W Skinner (Harlequins), N Easter (Harlequins, captain).
Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Newcastle), S Hooper (Leeds Carnegie), T Guest (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), P Richards (London Irish), U Monye (Harlequins).