BROTHERS Graham and Andrew Kitchener will line up alongside each other for the first time for Warriors in Friday’s Premiership Rugby Cup match against Exeter Chiefs at Sixways (kick-off 7.45pm).
The brothers, both locks, were on opposing sides when Warriors defeated Leicester Tigers in this competition at Welford Road last November.
Graham’s decision to re-join Warriors after an eight-year absence during the summer means that he is now a team-mate of his younger brother and they have been paired in the second row for the first time for Exeter’s visit.
Warriors have made ten changes to their starting XV with Andrew Kitchener one of the five starters who played at Bath last week.
Loosehead prop Ryan Bower, centre Alex Hearle and full-back Jamie Shillcock will both have their first starts of the season having come off the bench against Leicester and Bath.
Fly-half Jono Lance will become Warriors’ third captain in as many matches after club captain GJ van Velze and Marco Mama, who led the side at Bath.
Flanker Matti Williams is set for his seasonal debut off the bench having recovered from a groin injury and former Oxford University tighthead Joe Morris is also in line for his senior debut as a replacement.
England Under-20s loosehead prop Kai Owen, whose only first team appearance came as a replacement against Stade Francais in last season’s European Challenge Cup, is also among the replacements.
Warriors | 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Tom Howe, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Dean Hammond 10 Jono Lance (C) 9 Michael Heaney, 1 Ryan Bower, 2 Isaac Miller, 3 Conor Carey, 4 Andrew Kitchener, 5 Graham Kitchener, 6 Caleb Montgomery, 7 Sam Lewis, 8 Cornell du Preez.
Replacements | 16 Beck Cutting, 17 Kai Owen, 18 Joe Morris, 19 Justin Clegg, 20 Matti Williams, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Scott van Breda, 23 Nick David.