McMaster grad Aaron Carpenter will serve as Canadian team captain for Saturday's Test match against the United States at Twin Elm Rugby Park in Ottawa.

He'll handle duties from the No. 8 spot in Tyler Ardron's absence. Carpenter, Hubert Buydens, John Moonlight and Harry Jones are the only other players to keep their spot in coach Kieran Crowley's lineup after Canada's recent 15-13 loss to the Americans in their final Pacific Nations Cup game.

"There are a couple of guys who performed pretty well during PNC who deserve the opportunity again and a couple of guys who are carrying knocks who are better served to have a week off," Crowley said Wednesday. "It's a reward for performance. Some of the boys have played well who might not have considered themselves to be in this position at this time so they deserve another opportunity."

Buydens will be joined by Ray Barkwill and Doug Wooldridge in the front row while Tyler Hotson and Jon Phelan will play at lock. Nanyak Dala will join Moonlight and Carpenter in the back row.

Gordon McRorie is back at scrum half after missing the U.S. game due to injury while Nathan Hirayama gets his second start of the summer at fly half. Nick Blevins, who along with Carpenter was Canada's top try scorer during the PNC with two tries, will play at centre with Conor Trainor.

Phil Mackenzie and the returning Taylor Paris will man the wings with Jones at fullback.

It is one of four warmup matches for Canada ahead of the World Cup, and the team plans to make some cuts to its preliminary 35-man tournament roster on Sunday. Canada opens World Cup play Sept. 19 against Ireland at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, U.K.