CHRIS Horsman is out of Saturday's Sixways Saracens showdown.

The Worcester Warriors' prop, who has been a major factor in their second-half season revival, has twisted his ankle and will miss the vital Premiership clash (2pm).

Lee Fortey comes in at tight-head after Horsman damaged ligaments in training this week, but Worcester are hoping that he will miss just one game.

For Sixways director of rugby John Brain, the news comes as a blow against the side boasting one of the best packs in the business.

"There are two teams you don't want to be facing without your first choice tight-head and that's Leicester and Saracens," said Brain.

"They have the best two scrums in the league. It's a blow for us but we've got to move on, accept that he's not playing and it's an opportunity for the pack to prove what they can do without him.

"It's an important game for us, coming on the back of a poor performance against Bath. The players have something to prove to themselves."

Horsman is not the only injury worry for Worcester. Flanker Drew Hickey has missed training this week with a foot problem and will only start on the bench if fit enough, while scrum-half Clive Stuart-Smith has broken his thumb. Siaosi Vaili comes in for his first start since January.

There is some good news for the Warriors, however, with the return of fly-half James Brown following his appendectomy. "It's good to have him back," said head coach Andy Keast. "James was in good form before his illness. He was running our game very well. He's back probably a little quicker than we thought and he takes that number 10 jersey. He's completely recovered from the operation and the only issue now is his stamina."

Prop Neil Lyman is named in the 22 for the first time since January after his sternum injury.

"Neil is looking good," added Brain. "He would not let us down if we had an early problem."

Warriors: Delport; Pieters, Rasmussen, Lombard, Hinshelwood; Brown, Powell; Windo, Van Niekerk, Fortey, Collier, Gillies, Vaili, Sanderson, MacLeod-Henderson. Replacements: Lyman, Murphy, Daly, Hickey, Cole, Hayes, O'Leary.