INFLUENTIAL back rower GJ Van Velze is set to return to captain Worcester Warriors as they look to put Doncaster Knights to the sword at Sixways tomorrow (Saturday).
The 26-year-old has not featured for Worcester since his man-of-the-match display against Yorkshire Carnegie last month as he has been away in South Africa getting married.
In his absence Warriors have extended their winning run to 18 games, but his return to side will still be a big boost for director of rugby Dean Ryan, who has named Van Velze at number eight.
The former Northampton Saints man will also regain the captaincy from Jonathan Thomas who has been shifted to the second row where he will partner Mike Williams.
Ryan Lamb and Max Stelling also return to the side at fly-half and outside-centre respectively as Ryan makes a total of 11 changes to the starting line up which ousted Pontypridd in the British & Irisih Cup last weekend.
Alex Grove could make his first outing for the first team since early December as he has been named on the bench alongside George Porter, who has returned from his loan spell with Nottingham.
Warriors will be looking for a repeat of their 32-16 victory over Knights earlier this season, but Ryan insisted their opponents have “improved a lot” since then.
“They comprehensively beat a good Munster A side in the B&I Cup last weekend so we know they’ll be a stern test,” Ryan said.
“They’re a very big side. The pace of the game is crucial to make sure we don’t get sucked in. We’ve been getting good starts recently but sometimes you have to adapt to what’s happening.
“We’ve now got 22-23 players that we’re mixing around into that starting 15.
“The net isn’t as wide now. It doesn’t mean we’ll keep using the same 15 but you can start to get an idea of the people that are in contention.”
Warriors’ side to face Doncaster: Howard, Hammond, Stelling, Symons, Biggs, Lamb, Arr, Bower, Creevy, Schonert, Williams, Thomas, Senatore, Betty, Van Velze (C)
Replacements: George, Porter, Daniels, Sanderson, Mulchrone. Mieres, Grove
CAPTION: GJ Van Velze is set to return to skipper Worcester Warriors. Picture by Andy Baldwin.