DUNCAN Roke looks set to be handed a key role for Worcester against Henley Hawks on Saturday.

The 27-year-old centre, who made his name at Dry Leas before his summer move, is likely to start at full-back for the Sixways clash after winning back his first team spot.

Roke was dropped for the league wins over Moseley and Birmingham & Solihull but after impressing for the Warriors on Monday night at 15, he gets his chance.

Another beneficiary of a solid Warriors show is flanker Richard Nias who replaces skipper Kingsley Jones in a much changed back row. The 23-year-old comes in for his first league start since his summer move.

Nathan Carter is replaced by Christian Evans but Ben Clarke keeps his place after a fine display at Sharmans Cross Road on Saturday.

Top try scorer Chris Garrard is ruled out through illness so Sateki Tuipulotu moves to the wing. Last year's skipper Alistair Murdoch is once again named captain on the opposite flank.

"We want to have a look at Richard Nias at flanker after playing well for the Warriors," said head coach John Brain.

"Christian Evans was outstanding for the Warriors on Monday so it is a different back row combination for us. There is big pressure on the back row because of the competition for places there.

"We felt we needed to see Richard play a league game. If he can reproduce his Warriors form for the first team, it offers us something different to Kingsley and Nathan Carter.

"It is not a gamble, it's a good option. In the situation that we are in, you don't get anywhere in life unless you can make bold decisions. We certainly don't want to go into a game like Rotherham next week without leaving any stones unturned."

With Roke switching to full-back, Brain also has a new-look backs division which came about somewhat accidentally.

"Duncan ended up at full back on Monday night for the Warriors by accident because of an injury to Steven Vile," added Brain. "He looked comfortable at 15 and has a lot of qualities that make a good full back."

Probable team: Roke; Tuipulotu, Hinshelwood, Yates, Murdoch; Chalmers, Smith; Windo, Ross, Moreno, Morgan, Zaltzman, Evans, Nias, Clarke. Reps: Yapp, Moncrief, Trueman, Jenner, Sims, Hall, Collins.