Nick Kennedy has hinted that Mike Coman could keep hold of the London Irish captaincy.
Exiles stalwart David Paice began the season as skipper, leading the side out in each of his first nine appearances this campaign.
That run came to an enforced end when Paice was handed a five-week ban following a red card against Gloucester in December after a dangerous challenge.
At the time Kennedy said Paice was guilty of “letting his team down” and that the tackle was “unacceptable”.
The hooker returned from his ban for the European Challenge Cup win over Krasny Yar last month, but Sebastian De Chaves was named captain.
Kennedy says confidence is building after three straight wins
Paice is set for his fourth straight appearance on Friday night when Irish travel to face Cardiff Blues in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, but again he has not regained the armband with Coman preferred to lead the side.
“Mike Coman stepped up really well as captain when David was out banned,” Kennedy told The Wokingham Paper.
“We’ve just given Moo (Coman) the continued responsibility.
“Away to Krasny it was Seb and then Moo came back in (against Wasps) because he’d done a great job.
“Despite being on the wrong end of some results at Newcastle and at Leicester, they were very, very close games.
“One charged down kick here and one missed tackle there and as a leader, Mike Coman had done a great job.”
Kennedy has made two changes from the heavy 66-7 win over Wasps last week with Piet van Zyl given a first start for the club while Max Northcote-Green also comes in with Scott Steele and Blair Cowan dropping to the bench.
Victory would give the Exiles a chance of reaching the semi-finals.
LONDON IRISH XV v Cardiff: Marshall, Cokanasiga, Fowlie, J. Williams, Lewington, Brophy Clews, van Zyl, Franks, Paice, Hoskins, van der Merwe, Coman (c), Botha, Northcote-Green, Treviranus.
Reps: Porecki, Elrington, Du Plessis, De Chaves, Cowan, Steele, Bell, Tikoirotuma.
