Leicester fly-half Andy Goode and Sale back row Chris Jones are the only members of the starting line-up to have featured in this years RBS 6 Nations while scrum-half Andy Gomarsall is the most experienced player with 23 caps.

Newcastle centre Mathew Tait, who was dropped by England after making his debut against Wales in the Six Nations, misses out on a place in the side after failing to recover from injury.

James Simpson-Daniel and Chris Bell form the centre partnership, Paul Sackey and Ugo Monye provide plenty of gas on the wings and Sam Vesty takes the number 15 jersey to complete the back division.

Five players - Bell, Monye, Perry Freshwater, Phil Dowson and Stuart Turner - are making their first senior England appearance while Worcester openside Pat Sanderson leads the team.

England open their bid to reclaim the Churchill Cup which they surrendered to the New Zealand Maori last year against the Canadians.

A potentially far tougher encounter awaits in the final where the form guide points to a showdown against Argentina, who drew 25-25 with the British & Irish Lions last month.

Lydon said: Ive always seen this as a three-match tour for England, with the recent game at Twickenham against a world-class Barbarians side as the first of the three.

Above all, with over 20 England players currently on Lions duty in New Zealand, this tour is a terrific opportunity for some of the guys to show what theyre capable of, with future England selection in mind.

England team to face Canada at the Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton on Sunday:

S Vesty (Leicester); P Sackey (Wasps), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), C Bell (Leeds), U Monye (Harlequins); A Goode (Leicester), A Gomarsall (Gloucester, vice-capt); P Freshwater (Perpignan), G Chuter (Leicester); S Turner (Sale), L Deacon (Leicester), T Palmer (Leeds), C Jones (Sale), P Sanderson (Worcester, capt), P Dowson (Newcastle).

Replacements: L Mears (Bath), R Morris (Northampton), S Hooper (Leeds), J Forrester (Gloucester), P Richards (Wasps), A Erinle (Wasps), T Voyce (Wasps).