SCRUM-half Ben Harvey makes a giant leap into the unknown by playing his first ever league game at stand-off for Worcester tomorrow (3.00).

The former Richmond number nine will be wearing 10 at West Hartlepool after Tony Yapp suffered shoulder damage at Wakefield last week.

The departures of Richard Le Bas, Niall Malone and James Lofthouse has left Worcester short at stand-off, so Director of Rugby Les Cusworth recently decided on Harvey's switch.

The 25-year-old has trained as a stand-off for the last three weeks and played second team games against Coventry and Randwick.

"A modern day number ten has to be able to kick and distribute and a scrum-half does a similar job," said Cusworth.

"Ben Harvey played effectively against Coventry and again against Randwick and showed his skills as a natural footballer.

"I'm more than confident he'll do the job."

Harvey's addition to the starting line-up is the only change to the team which thrashed Wakefield 84-15 last Saturday.

But new signing Marco Caputo is on the bench in place of hooker Dean Ball. The only other addition sees centre Ali McLaughlin filling the place on the bench vacated by Harvey's promotion.

West Hartlepool have suffered seven straight defeats leaving them bottom of Premiership Two.

Worcester: Hughes, Baxter, Higgins, Connolly, Walker, Harvey, Fenley, Windo, Richards, Lyman, Raymond, Sims, Cockle, Carter, Jenner. Replacements: Linnett, Denhardt, Merlin, Caputo, Woof, Myler, McLaughlin.

* Worcester's second team game with Henley at Sixways tomorrow has been cancelled.