NEW SIGNING Wynand Olivier will be looking to showcase his skills to the Sixways crowd when he makes his debut against Wasps tomorrow (Saturday).
The experienced centre, who won the World Cup with South Africa in 2007, signed for Warriors this week and hoes straight into the side to face Warriors’ new Midlands rivals.
Olivier has been handed the number 12 shirt and will line-up alongside Alex Grove, while Chris Pennell, Sam Smith and Tom Biggs make-up the back three.
Marco Mama and Darren Barry will make their first Warriors starts as they line-up in a familiar looking forward pack, which feature captain GJ Van Velze at number eight.
Sam Lewis has secure the other back row spot, while Barry partners Darren O’Shea at lock and Val Rapava Ruskin, Niall Annett and Nick Schonert are named in the front-row.
The pre-season friendly also marks the first time they have met since Wasps upped sticks and made their move to Coventry last December.
And the visitors will be keen to get one over their rivals as director of rugby Dai Young has named a strong side, including former Warriors prop Matt Mullan.
Warriors: Pennell, Smith, Grove, Olivier, Biggs, Lamb, Mulchrone, Rapava Ruskin, Annett, Schonert, Barry, O’Shea, Mama, Lewis, Van Velze (C)
Replacements: George, Leleimalefaga, Rees, Sanderson, Cox, Arr, Heathcote, Fatiaki, Betty (blank shirt), Ryan Mills (blank shirt), Dowson (blank shirt), Howard (blank shirt)
Wasps: Miller, Wade, Macken, Downey, Bassett, Gopperth, Robson, Mullan, Johnson, Cooper-Woolley, Cannon, Gaskell, Jones, Young, Hughes
Replacements: Shervington, McIntyre, Stuart, Myall, Rowlands, Smith, Rieder, Stevenson, Jackson, Lozowski, Daly, Sailoso Tagicakibau