WARRIORS have made 12 changes to the starting line-up as they prepare for their final Anglo-Welsh Cup Pool 3 game against Dragons at Rodney Parade this Friday night (kick-off 7.30pm).
Only Dean Hammond, Tom Howe and Matt Cox keep their starting places as a young Warriors side chase victory in hope of reaching the competition’s semi-finals for the first time.
Howe, who has five tries in his last five appearances, starts in the back three alongside full-back Ben Howard and Academy winger Alex Hearle, who gets his first start since November.
In the centres, Under 18 star Ollie Lawrence is handed his first Warriors start at 12 while Dean Hammond gets the nod at 13 after having signed a new first-team deal earlier this week.
Sam Olver returns at fly-half to accompany Luke Baldwin at nine, with the latter making his first start since November.
In the pack, recent signing Anton Bresler is set for his first start in the second row, lining up next to Academy lock Andrew Kitchener, who prepares for his first appearance of the season.
Tom Dodd is awarded his first start since November and joins Alafoti Faosiliva and Cox in the back row while Ryan Bower leads the side from the front row, alongside Kurt Haupt and Simon Kerrod.
In the replacements, Nick Schonert returns from an ankle injury while Justin Clegg could make his first appearance of the season from the bench.
Academy full-back Nick David and former Warriors Under 18 youngster George Wootten could make their debuts if they feature from the replacements.
Warriors, who have scored the most tries in the pool, must win if they are to stand any chance of progressing to the semi-finals while they’ll be hoping Northampton Saints slip up against Harlequins.
Sam Vesty’s side have scored 14 tries in just three matches, and should they finish level on points with Northampton or Saracens, it is they who would go through if they finished with the most tries scored in the pool.
Warriors
15 Ben Howard
14 Alex Hearle
13 Dean Hammond
12 Ollie Lawrence (Warriors Under 18s/Bromsgrove School)
11 Tom Howe
10 Sam Olver
9 Luke Baldwin
1 Ryan Bower (C)
2 Kurt Haupt
3 Simon Kerrod
4 Anton Bresler
5 Andrew Kitchener
6 Alafoti Faosiliva
7 Matt Cox
8 Tom Dodd
Replacements
16 Matti Williams
17 Gareth Milasinovich
18 Nick Schonert
19 Justin Clegg
20 Huw Taylor
21 George Wootten (University of Bath)
22 Jamie Shillcock
23 Nick David
