Cornish Pirates high performance manager Chris Stirling expects no new additions to his squad before the start of the Championship season next month.

The Pirates have made eight new signings during the course the off-season but completed the majority of their business earlier in the summer.

Six new faces had arrived before the start of pre-season training earlier this month with dual-registered duo Tom Cowan Dickie and Drew Locke bringing the total to eight on their arrival from Exeter Chiefs three weeks ago.

And with both Rudi Brits and Steve Winn having re-signed having previously been destined for pastures new, Stirling says he is happy with his squad. No, We're settled now," said Stirling. "We've got a fair share of niggles and some might not be available for the pre-season games but all going well we'll be able to hit the ground running with what we've got."

The reduced turnover of players compared with previous years has already benefited Stirling and fellow coaches Ian Daves and Harvey Biljon. Stirling said: "A lot of the gameplan, the players already know, they understand it and we just have to perfect it. We're a lot further on.

"The players have worked really hard and it's pleasing because some of the stuff that we instilled in the guys has paid off – they've turned up a lot fitter than they did last year."

That will certainly need to be the case if they are to repeat last season's heroics when they lifted the very first British & Irish Cup by beating Munster in the final at Camborne's Recreation Ground.

The Pirates will be joined in Pool A by Scottish Premiership One champions Currie, Leinster, Plymouth Albion, Worcester Warriors and Newport when the competition gets underway in December.

Stirling said: "We're in the pool of death in the British & Irish Cup. Top two in that would be nice but that will be very hard. We've got an away trip to Newport in there to look forward to as well."

However, the Pirates' home at the Mennaye Field is looking a more suitable venue with every passing day.

Stirling said: "The pitch has been re-seeded and a lot more money has been ploughed into the surface to get that up to speed. The stands will arrive in the next week or so – there's already been a lot of painting and preparation – with all the foundations going in and the marquee all coming together.

"There's a really good chance that we'll get new floodlights, but if we can keep mid-winter kick-offs to 3pm, it's going to be more inviting to supporters who are in central or east Cornwall."