WORCESTER Rugby Club's young guns have been handed the ammunition to shoot down the 'old guard' if they perform at Wakefield tomorrow.

John Brain -- the Sixways director of rugby -- has included a number of academy graduates in the team for the fifth round Powergen Cup clash at College Grove (2.30pm).

And he has told the youngsters that a solid display can win them a place in Worcester's National One team to face Henley next weekend.

"We are no respecters of reputations at Worcester," said Brain. "If you are good enough, you are old enough and if the players put their hands up with a performance at Wakefield then it will give us an interesting selection poser."

Lock James Percival has got the nod with Craig Gillies rested, while 18-year-old wing Martin Freeman starts on the right.

Jon Higgins has won his first start of the season at fly-half and there are bench places for back row forward Mark Hopley, prop Mark Hansen and centre Matt Mountford.

Mountford may even start the cup clash if Duncan Murray fails to come through today's fitness test, while another academy ace Tom Warren is waiting in the wings if Neil Lyman is still suffering from a groin strain.

Team: Hylton; Freeman, Officer, Murray (Mountford), Freeman; Higgins, Powell; Fortey, Hall, Lyman (Warren), Zaltzman, Percival, Gabey, Mason, M Evans. Replacements: Brown, McAtee, Mountford, Bates, Hopley, Clunis, Hansen.