WARRIORS prop Lee Fortey will start a Premiership match for the first time this season when Newcastle visit Sixways today (2pm).

Fortey replaces the injured Tevita Taumoepeau at tight-head and will line up alongside his twin brother Chris, who plays hooker.

Elsewhere, Thinus Delport returns to the side after missing Saturday's defeat at Gloucester, taking the place of Gary Trueman on the wing.

Number eight Drew Hickey, who has been sidelined with a wrist injury since the end of March, is among the replacements.

Matt Powell has recovered from an ankle injury to start at scrum-half, while Andy Gomarsall will make his 150th Premiership appearance if he comes off the replacements' bench.

Powell believes it will be a tough test against Newcastle's talented backs.

"They've got a young, exciting back-line and they are very, very dangerous," he said. "People like Mathew Tait and Jamie Noon, they are all quality players and they can score from anywhere.

"But we have got the potential to really cause some damage in the set-piece. If we get that right and perhaps deny their backs quality ball then I think our pack can look after itself."

Captain Pat Sanderson is hoping to mark Worcester's last Sixways game of the season with a win.

He said: "It's great to be playing at home on a nice, dry track and we've got to go out there and take our chances. I've no doubt we can get a result but it's going to take a big effort.

"They've got good backs and the likes of Matt Burke, who is a huge attacking weapon, and they've definitely bolstered themselves up front a bit.

"Newcastle showed in the second-half at London Irish just what they are capable of when they start to get a bit of flow into their game. So we've just got to work hard and make sure we are organised."

Warriors: Le Roux, Oduoza, Rasmussen, Lombard, Delport, Drahm, Powell, Windo, C Fortey, L Fortey, Murphy, Gillies, Sanderson, Harding, Horstmann. Replacements: Van Niekerk, MacDonald, O'Donoghue, Hickey, Gomarsall, Brown, Trueman.