However uncertain its future may be, the EDF Energy Cup - the Anglo-Welsh tournament that has so many echoes of a rich amateur past - serves a purpose. It may be the ugly duckling in the English club structure, but if spectators at the first-round games this weekend do not come away feeling rewarded, it will be a surprise.

Different clubs, different motives. “It's a competition we value very highly,” Sean Holley, acting head coach to the Ospreys, who won the tournament last season, said. “It has helped put the Ospreys on the map across the UK and we're proud to be champions.”

To prove it, Holley turns out one of his strongest XVs, Gavin Henson and all, against Harlequins at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow.

Or listen to Richard Hill, head coach to a Bristol side yet to win in the Guinness Premiership this season. “This game is probably much more important now,” he said of this afternoon's game away to Northampton. “We need a win, it doesn't matter where it comes from.”

As matters stand, this is the last season of the cup in its present format, which blended England's oldest domestic competition, the national knockout trophy that started 37 years ago, with the traditional rivalry of the Welsh and the English. The administrators of both countries must come up with a new formula by December 31 to present to potential sponsors and broadcasters. EDF Energy is one of the commercial partners of Premier Rugby Ltd (PRL) in England and the tournament is the sole club property of the BBC, but the thinking at present is to expand to 20 teams and play during the international windows.

To the existing 16 teams - the 12 Premiership sides and the four Welsh regions - would be added the leading four clubs in England's National Division One and there is potential for a second-tier tournament involving the remaining National Division One clubs and Welsh Premiership clubs. Given that expansion inevitably occupies more weekends, a revamped EDF Energy Cup could start as part of the pre-season build-up.

“We could survive without the EDF [Energy] Cup,” Mark McCafferty, the PRL chief executive, said as he wrestles with the problem of reducing the existing overlaps of Premiership fixtures with the international calendar (nine this season, six in 2009-10). But in this new era of détente, with the first shoots of the new relationship between PRL and the RFU coming up nicely, he does not wish to lose a tournament that is profitable and a useful development tool.

His problem is selling such a vehicle to sponsors and broadcasters who seek more star appeal than the EDF Energy Cup possesses. Yet a glance across the teams turning out this weekend suggests that there will be no shortage of international experience: Leicester, last season's beaten finalists, who play in-form Bath, give a first start to Derick Hougaard, the Springboks fly half, who has followed his mentor, Heyneke Meyer, from Pretoria to Welford Road.

It is important for Leicester that Hougaard plays his way into form as quickly as possible, after a shoulder injury, so that he can slot in when Toby Flood is called away by England next month. It is just as important for Bath to study how Shontayne Hape, recruited from Bradford Bulls, goes in his first start at outside centre; they have been impressed with his skills in training, now he must display them for real.

London Wasps can make 14 changes to their starting XV for the trip to Gloucester and field an all-international back row of Joe Worsley, the captain, James Haskell and Serge Betsen. Harlequins, waiting for the results of a scan on David Strettle's foot, injured in the 30-23 win over Worcester Warriors on Thursday night, will field Epi Taione, the sometime flanker or centre, on the wing against the Ospreys.

“We've enjoyed a great run in this tournament, losing just once in our last 11 fixtures,” Ryan Jones, the Ospreys and Wales captain, said. “We have to look at repeating what we achieved last season.”

Guide to the weekend's EDF Energy Cup matches

Group A

Gloucester v London Wasps (2.30pm today, BBC One)

With BBC coverage like gold dust to sponsors struggling for exposure, this competition should be taken more seriously.Gloucester are unusual in that they keep as many as four players from Tuesday’s Guinness Premiership match while, Wasps, semi-finalists last season, name three. Lachlan Mitchell makes his debut for Wasps. Danny Cipriani is on the bench.

Group B

Bath v Leicester (2.15pm, today)

Shontayne Hape, the 26-year-old former Bradford Bulls and New Zealand player, is the latest rugby league convert and makes his first start for Bath today. At 6ft 2in and 161/2st, Hape is a formidable centre and is qualified for England through residency. Both teams name only one player from their starting Xv's from Wednesday’s Guinness Premiership matches.

Sale Sharks v Cardiff Blues (3pm, today)

Sale put out a completely new XV to the side who lost 28-6 away to London Irish on Wednesday. Cardiff name nine of the side who inflicted a record 58-0 defeat on Connacht in the Magners League on the Fridasy before last. Martyn Williams, the Wales flanker, returns from ankle ligament damage. Nick MacLeod, the Sale full back, makes his debut against his former club.

Group C

Worcester Warriors v London Irish (3pm tomorrow)

Worcester name seven of the starting XV from their defeat by Harlequins on Thursday. Irish name three of the starting XV who beat Sale at home in their midweek Guinness Premiership fixture - that may rise to four if Tonga Lea’aetoa starts instead of Faan Rautenbach at tight-head prop. Shane Geraghty makes his first start of the season for Irish, at inside centre, and Clarke Dermody, the All Black prop, returns, on the bench, from his pre-season arm injury.

Ospreys v Harlequins

(3.05pm, tomorrow, BBC Wales)

Ospreys, the champions, name their strongest side, which more-or-less, equates to the Wales team. The weakness is at scrum half with both Mike Phillips and Jamie Nutbrown injured. Andy Gomarsall, the Harlequins captain, may look to expose that, but only Chris Robshaw survives from the starting XV who defeated Worcester.

Group D

Northampton v Bristol (3pm, today)

Northampton start with three members of the starting XV who lost 29-19 away to Leicester on Wednesday and Bristol name an entirely new XV to the side who lost 23-16 at home to Saracens. Bristol have started the season with five defeats in the Guinness Premiership, but they have had plenty of possession, which their pack should guarantee again.

Saracens v Scarlets (3pm, tomorrow)

Scarlets strengthen their side with five changes to the XV who lost 34-20 away to Glasgow in the Magners League two weeks on the Friday before last, including the return of Simon Easterby, the captain, at blind-side flanker. Saracens name only two players from the XV who defeated Bristol on Wednesday — Ben Skirving and Andy Saull.

Words by Matthew Pryor