LOCK Michael Fatialofa will make his debut for Warriors in their European Challenge Cup Pool Two match against Pau at Sixways on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
Fatialofa joined Warriors in late October having helped Auckland win New Zealand’s Mitre 10 Cup but he has been given a month to recover fully from a knee injury which required surgery after he had completed the Hurricanes’ Super Rugby season.
Fatialofa has now been cleared to play again and he has been named in the Warriors’ starting XV as they start the second half of their European campaign.
Marco Mama returns to the side for the first time since the victory over Bristol Bears in the Gallagher Premiership in early October following his recovery from injury.
Back-row forward Carl Kirwan is set to make his first senior appearance in two years having been named among the replacements.
Kirwan has played second team rugby for the Cavaliers since a shoulder injury initially disrupted his career.
Full-back Scott van Breda and number eight Alafoti Faosiliiva are the only players in Saturday’s side who started in Pau last week although scrum-half Jonny Arr came on as a second half replacement in France.
Warriors
15 Scott van Breda
14 Bryce Heem
13 Francois Venter
12 Ryan Mills (C)
11 Josh Adams
10 Duncan Weir
9 Jonny Arr
1 Callum Black
2 Jack Singleton
3 Nick Schonert
4 Anton Bresler
5 Michael Fatialofa
6 Ted Hill
7 Marco Mama
8 Alafoti Faosiliva
Replacements
16 Isaac Miller
17 Ethan Waller
18 Gareth Milasinovich
19 Pierce Phillips
20 Carl Kirwan
21 Michael Heaney
22 Ollie Lawrence
23 Perry Humphreys