JAMES Brown has been handed the task of ending London Irish's cup dreams -- two years after sharing in their glory.

The Sixways fly-half takes his place in Worcester's side for Saturday's Powergen Cup sixth round clash with the Exiles following a neck injury which has sidelined him since October.

It will be the first time the 26-year-old has faced his ex-club since he watched on from the Twickenham bench as Irish beat Northampton in the 2002 final, a few months before his move to Sixways.

"It's a big game for James," said Worcester's head coach Andy Keast. "It's his old club and he's been itching to get back."

Brown impressed in his 40-minute run-out against Rovigo on Saturday in his first action since suffering the neck injury against Brive in the European Challenge Cup back in October.

Keast, though, is confident that Brown is fit enough to bring down his former employers.

"James has been passed fully fit so it's about building up his game time now," he said.

"Tommy Hayes hasn't trained fully this week because of a calf problem so James gets his chance. James needs to get back into it and I think it's the type of match that he will relish."

Worcester skipper Pat Sanderson misses out, following his RFU ban, and with Ben Hinshelwood rested because of an on-going back injury, Tony Windo comes into the side at loosehead to captain the Warriors.

In a much-changed back row, Drew Hickey takes over Sanderson's openside role while Brad MacLeod-Henderson starts at eight and Saosi Vaili at blindside. There is also a first appearance in the Warriors squad for promising flanker Alex Rae who has represented England at under-19 level. Neil Mason is cup-tied after playing for Coventry in the competition while on loan.

"It's an exciting game in prospect," said Keast. "London Irish are a very accomplished side and they won this cup two years ago. We need to get back to the level of intensity we showed against Wasps in our last Premiership game at Sixways."

Warriors: Delport; Pieters, Rasmussen, Lombard, O'Leary; Brown, Powell; Windo, Van Niekerk, Horsman, Collier, Gillies, Viali, Hickey, MacLeod-Henderson. Replacements: Fortey, Hall, Murphy, Rae, Cole, Hayes, Sampson.