Prague is the opening destination as six nations begin the quest for this year’s European Shield, when the Czech Republic host Serbia this Saturday afternoon in the West section of the competition.

Serbia coach Marko Jankovic is eager to test his young charges and has named Dalibor Vukanović as captain and ex-Whitehaven prop Soni Radovanović as vice captain but the Czechs say they are ready for everything the Serbians are set to throw at them.

“The team is waiting for a really tough opponent on Saturday,” said Beroun Panthers’ Michal Priputen, who scored a try and kicked two goals in the Czech Republic’s 56-16 loss to Serbia three years ago.

“On paper they are the favourites but each match is different and chances are equal,” he added.

As all six countries announced their 25-man squads, Germany coach Danny Stocks included veteran Simon Cooper who is on the brink of becoming the first German player to take his international appearances into double figures.

Player-coach Stocks has added Jonas Burkhardt to the squad after he impressed for Hochspeyer Sharks who were runners up at the recent Heidelberg 9’s.

In Moscow, on Sunday, Russia welcome Ukraine to kick off the European Shield East, with the visitors backing up to take on Latvia two days later.

Russia player/coach Edward Ososkov commented, “We have selected the best players from the domestic Championship and now we are looking forward to seeing our national team in action.”

His counterpart Artur Martyrosyan Jnr is relishing the test that faces his squad. "Ukraine has intensively been preparing for the matches in Moscow,” he said.

“Our programme of hosting touring sides at home in June has prepared us well.”

Czech Republic

Jan Buben, Martin ÄŒernohorský, David Dolak, Michal Hora, Jakub Hrbáč, Michal Priputen, Jakub Smíšek (Beroun), Jiri Eichler, Mirek Horacek, Ondrej Kopecky, David Lahr, Michael Ross, Pavel Zemanek (Pardubice), Premek Bradle, Richard Hladik, Tomas Holovski, Jan Sluka, Jarda Stribro (Praha), Vlada Blazek, Kristián Ernst, Martin Giel, Michal Kucera, Tomas Kurka, Marcel Mana, Zdenek Zahrada (Praslavice)

Germany

Simon Cooper, Christian Gabriel, Christoph Huber, Michi Reinhold (Blau Weiss Bayern), Jacob Handy, Thomas Isaak, Nico Koch, Max Schoengen, Artur Schein (Calbach Raccoons), Liam Doughton, Fabrice Fehlman, Max Froeschner, Ben Behr-Heyder (Cologne), Jonas Burkhardt, Jimmy Keinhorst, Been Rehm, Timo Troesch (Hochspeyer Sharks), Kristian Keinhorst, Nick Keinhorst (Leeds Akkies), Guillaume Stoecklin (Montpellier), Damien Seibold (Rockhampton Brothers), Dean Scotthorne (Sheffield Eagles), Anthony Seibold (South Wales Scorpions), Paul Shezhofner (Telford Raiders), Dan Stocks (Unattached)

Serbia

Lazar Nahirnić, Aleksandar Sič (Car Lazar), Filip Brkić, Dimtris Dajč, Danilo Delić, Marko Katanić, Vladan Kikanović, Nikola Kovačević, Dejan Lukenić, Stefan Nikolić, Soni Radovanović, Stevan Stevanović, Ivan Šušnjara, Milan Šušnjara Vuk Tvrdišić, Nikša Unković, Dalibor Vukanović (Dorćol), Veljko Antić, Lazar Živković (Niš), Zoran Pešić Domestic (Podbara), Nenad Grbić, Žarko Kovačević, Milan Štrbac (Radnički), Miloš ÄŒalić, Ivan Djordjević (Red Star)

Latvia

Edgars Cirulis, Aivis Ashmanis, Maris Robezhnieks, Nameisis Zemitis, Ivars Eglis, Romans Vishnyakovs, Ugis Eida, Roberts Ashmanis, Juris Ushkans, Aris Andersons, Viktors Aboltinsh, Peteris Lamaks (Miesnieki, Riga); Raitis Korts, Edgars Kokins, Kaspars Lakushs, Raivis Kokins (Baldone Club, Baldone); Ainars Berzinsh, Vigo Valdavs, Davis Zagorskis, Janis Keninsh (Livonija, Riga); Kriss Trede, Mets Trede (Bury Titans); Andrej Panasuks (Ovals); Ingus Aivars (Ezhi).

Russia

Edward Ososkov, Rustam Bulanov, Vladimir Vlasyuk, Denis Loshilin, Ilgiz Galimov, Sergey Gaponov, Sergey Konstantinov, Andrey Sevostyanov, Aleksander Lysokon, Maksim Suchkov, Kirill Nechaev, Aleksey Nikolaev, Sergey Pavlyuchenkov, Vadim Fedchuk, Igor Chupurin  (Vereya); Zakir Priznyakov, Dmitry Bratko (Kentavr); Aleksey Abanin, Aleksander Vasilyev, Leonid Kozel, VyacheslV Petukhov (Spartak); Pavel Gribkov, Valentin Petrovskiy, Kirill Borisov (Treshers), Evgeny Nepeyvoda (Donskoy University).

Ukraine

Vladimir Mashkin, Andrey Bashevsky, Igor Shevtsov, Alexander Skorbach (C), Artem Lyubenskiy, Vladimir Loban, Maksim Miroshnichenko, Youry Smoliy, Mihail Troyan, Sergey Kravchenko, Alexander Kozak, Pavel Kardakov, Artur Martyrosyan (Legion XIII, Kharkiv); Dmitry Litvinov, Pavel Logosha (Nevskaya Zastava, St.Peterburg); Alexander Solonitsky, Andrey Markelov (Storm, Kharkiv).