Two development sides, about 40 players, and at least 12 rookies set to make their debuts.

The Gators men are back on the pitch this Saturday, October 3 for the first time since their season-opening loss at Auburn, traveling to Coral Gables for a doubleheader against Florida Atlantic and the University of Miami.

Florida is bringing two development sides, roughly 40 players in all. At least 12 of them will play their first ever competitive match, so this weekend is as much about blooding new talent and testing the depth of the squad as it is about the result.

The Matches

Both matches are at the University of Miami Intramural Fields, 5644 San Amaro Dr., Coral Gables, FL 33146. Florida plays FAU at 3:00 PM, with the match against Miami to follow at 4:00 PM. There is no live stream this weekend, so look for results and photos here afterward.

What the Staff Want to See

Coming off a narrow 24-22 loss at Auburn, where the men built an early 15-0 lead before a more match sharp side came back, the focus this weekend is on the players coming through. Coach Martin Russell flagged the trip as a chance to get a first proper look at the depth in the squad, calling it "hugely exciting" and saying it "will give us good insight into their potential and the health of our player pipeline."

Let's Go Gators Rugby.