WES Davies and Jon Hylton will be handed their first starts as Worcester play Harrogate at Sixways.

The new signings, who joined last week to bolster John Brain and Andy Keast's squad, are both included in the side for the third round Powergen Cup clash tomorrow (3pm).

Director of Rugby Brain has made a number of changes to the side which beat London Welsh 34-0 on Saturday. Hylton replaces Duncan Roke at full back while Davies comes in for Chris Garrard on the wing.

"It is an opportunity for the new guys because we have a trip to Manchester in the league coming up and it's a chance for them to stake a claim," said Brain.

The Warriors' coach has also tinkered with the back row line-up as Neil Mason comes in for Gavin Pfister. The South African is away because of family commitments but the make-up of that unit is switched around with Mason taking the blindside role, Drew Hickey playing open-side and Christian Evans reverting to number eight.

"Drew has played a lot of rugby at seven," added Brain. "So we don't envisage any problem there. Dean Thomas has a hamstring injury, while it was a very close call between Neil and Matt Evans.

"Neil had a good game for the U21s recently so he has been rewarded."

National Two side Harrogate have enjoyed an encouraging start to their league campaign and Brain believes they are dangerous opponents.

"They've got nothing to lose," he said. "They have some players who have experienced National One and they look in good form so we won't be taking them lightly."

Meanwhile, skipper Werner Swan-epoel's surgery was yesterday de-layed after a knee scan showed he might not have torn cartilage.

The scan revealed he could have damaged knee ligaments an injury which would not require an operation. The management will study more results today before making a final decision. The ligament injury would be unlikely to keep out Swanepoel for more than a month.

Worcester: Hylton; O'Leary, Hayes, Trueman, Davies; Brown, Powell; Windo, Daly, Lyman, Gabey, Gillies, Mason, Hickey, C Evans. Reps: McAtee, Roke, Garrard, Clunis, Fortey, Zaltzman, M Evans.