DIRECTOR of rugby Dean Ryan says Alex Grove will have a point to prove when he lines up for Worcester Warriors against Plymouth Albion at Brickfields tomorrow (Saturday, 5pm).
The experienced centre has not played for Warriors since coming on as a substitute against Nottingham in late September.
Max Stelling, 20, has since stolen the limelight in the number 13 shirt as he has started Worcester’s last eight games and has received rave reviews from Ryan.
But the Warriors boss has decided to welcome back Grove into his starting 15 and he hopes the 26-year-old can showcase why he has been such a key player at Worcester.
“Alex is desperate to play, so we will give him an opportunity this weekend,” Ryan said.
“He has been frustrated, but this club has played people 25 times on the bounce for years because they either did not have any other options or they have been too entrenched in the hear and now.
“Players have to adapt and know they are not going to play every week and when they do play they have got to play well. If they don’t then it will be three or four week and their last memory will be one when they were not at their best.
“There is a bit of pressure around that and without a doubt Alex has his chance this weekend to say ‘this is where I am at’ and remind us why he was our first choice throughout last season.”
Andy Symons also returns and will partner Grove in midfield as Ryan makes eight changes to the side which beat Bedford Blues 42-12 last week.
Sam Betty has been handed a place in the back row, while Ignacio Mieres and Jonny Arr will combine at half back as Warriors aim to secure their ninth win on the bounce in all competitions.
Plymouth, meanwhile, have yet to pick up a victory in the Greene King IPA Championship as they sit at the foot of the table, but Ryan admitted the trip to Brickfields would still present its challenges for his side.
“It’s going to be cold, wet and dark – and we can pretty much guarantee that having looked at the weather forecast,” he said. “From memory, they don’t have the best of floodlights either.
“But the environments we have to go in and perform at are part of the challenge of the Championship, so we are not going to moan about it. We are going to go there, get the job done and move on to the next game.”
Warriors’ side to face Plymouth: Howard, Smith, Grove, Symons, Biggs, Mieres, Arr, Bower, Annett, Daniels, Percival, O’Shea, Williams, Betty, Van Velze
Replacements: Sowrey, Fainga’anuku, Rees, Cox, Bruzulier, Lamb, Fatiaki