WORCESTER Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan said he hopes to get a clearer indication of what his strongest side looks like over the next few weeks.
Ryan has made just one change to the starting line which defeated Nottingham last week as Warriors go up against third-placed London Scottish at the Athletic Ground tomorrow (Saturday).
Fit-again tight-head Nick Schonert is set to make his first appearance since September after replacing promising prop Mike Daniels in the front row.
The rest of the side, which includes experienced trio Chris Pennell, Jonathan Thomas and Ryan Lamb, maintain their places despite Ryan describing their display last Saturday as “clunky”.
But he believes his senior stars would step things up against London Scottish who have lost just twice in the Greene King IPA Championship this season.
“I think the whole idea of playing that side a week earlier was a good call as we don’t want to be clunky against London Scottish and I expect to see progress,” he said.
“It is up to us to get better from that point as there were some real signs of the quality. (Ryan) Mills is top class with ball in hand and that is just going to better and we have yet to see Chris Pennell in the sort of form of last season so there are lots of thing to get better at.
“We’re making strong selections in the next few weeks to give us a snapshot of where we think we are and also to give some of those senior players more continuity.
“Lamb, Creevy and Thomas haven’t played very much so now is the time for them to show where they are but we won’t allow reputations to block people coming through.”
Schonert will line-up alongside Val Rapava Ruskin and Argentina skipper Agustin Creevy, while Darren O’Shea will partner Mike Williams in the second row.
A strong back row sees Thomas, GJ Van Velze and Sam Betty join forces, while Sam Smith and Tom Biggs keep their places on the wings in a back three which also includes England international Pennell.
Ryan added: “London Scottish’s form and the fact it is away from home make it a really tough opposition. They are a side competing for the play-off so it will be opportunity for both sides to put a marker down.”
Warriors’ side to face London Scottish: Pennell, Smith, Stelling, Mills, Biggs, Lamb, Arr, Rapava Ruskin, Creevy, Schonert, Williams, O’Shea, Thomas, Betty, Van Velze (C)
Replacements: George, Bower, Rees, Senatore, Mulchrone, Mieres, Symons