CHRIS Pennell and Matt Mullan will both make their first Championship starts of the season against Birmingham & Solihull on Saturday (2pm) - and head coach Richard Hill has backed them to get over the 'psychological barrier' of being sidelined for so long.

Club captain Pennell will start the local derby game at full-back, while England prop Mullan will pack down at loose-head to build on his 40-minute outing in the British & Irish Cup victory at Currie.

Hill said: "Injuries heal and we would not put either Chris or Matt onto the field unless they were right. Matt has done all the contact work in training and the physios are happy. The same applies to Chris - we wouldn't play him if there was an issue.

"Now it is about what goes on in the head. You have to believe that you are right as a player and get that first bit of live contact in a match. Suddenly they will know it is OK.

"It is a psychological barrier to get over. Some players take a while to get confidence back. But both are confident and good professionals who are desperately keen to get in to the play-off team - that is a huge incentive. In one or two matches they will be back to full confidence.”

Lock Graham Kitchener, centre Alex Grove and England under 20 duo Andy Short and Matt Kvesic will all join Pennell and Mullan in the starting XV.

Hill added: "The players coming in want to prove a point so I think we will get a really good game. There are a lot of players that will be given an opportunity to show what they can do and have a lot to play for.

“Selection might change a little bit. Yes, it appears to have been settled until now, but we are coming into nice weather and harder grounds. Some players were doing very well in those conditions at the start of the season.

"We reverted to a bigger and heavier pack in the winter, but now the conditions have changed there is still a lot to play for. The 22 for the play-offs is not settled at all."

Meanwhile, Nottingham have opted to stage their home play-off Pool ‘A’ match with Worcester on a Friday night. The Meadow Lane clash will take place on March 25 with a 7.45pm kick-off.

Warriors will then host the Green and Whites the following Saturday (April 2) at Sixways (3pm).

• Click here for the very latest Worcester Warriors match updates and news - Tom Guest on Twitter.