WARRIORS utility back Scott van Breda will make his first appearance since September in Saturday’s European Challenge Cup Pool One match against Enisei-STM at Sixways (kick-off 3pm).
Van Breda started the first match of the season – a Premiership Rugby Cup match against Leicester Tigers – at full-back and played as a replacement centre against Bath the following week.
He has since had two spells on loan with Isuzu Southern Kings in the Guinness Pro-14 and been in impressive form for unbeaten Cavaliers in the Premiership Rugby Shield.
Van Breda will partner Ollie Lawrence, who came off the bench against Saracens last week, in a much-changed Warriors team.
Captain GJ van Velze, tighthead prop Richard Palframan and Jamie Shillcock, who switches to fly-half from full-back, are the only players who started last week.
Van Velze will make his 98th appearance for Warriors with fellow back-row forward Matt Cox in line for his 99th appearance if he comes off the bench.
Eight of the starting XV – Lawrence, Shillcock, Palframan, Tom Howe, Jono Kitto, Isaac Miller, Andrew Kitchener and Tom Dodd – also started in the bonus point win over Enisei in Kransnodar in November.
Centre Will Butler is in line to make his first appearance in three-and-a-half months having recovered from the ankle injury he sustained on his seasonal debut at Bath.
Butler has been named as a replacement along with tighthead prop Nick Schonert who has recovered from the head injury he suffered in the win over London Irish two weeks ago.
Warriors
15 Chris Pennell
14 Nick David
13 Ollie Lawrence
12 Scott van Breda
11 Tom Howe
10 Jamie Shillcock
9 Jono Kitto
1 Ethan Waller
2 Isaac Miller
3 Richard Palframan
4 Andrew Kitchener
5 James Scott
6 Tom Dodd
7 Marco Mama
8 GJ van Velze (C)
Replacements
16 Beck Cutting
17 Kai Owen
18 Nick Schonert
19 Morgan Monks
20 Matt Cox
21 Gareth Simpson
22 Will Butler
23 Noah Heward