REMOVING Brive’s set-piece weapon will be key to Worcester Warriors’ fortunes in today’s European Challenge Cup showdown in France (8pm GMT).

That’s the view from Warriors head coach Carl Hogg who has had a “more hands-on” approach in the lead-up to their penultimate Pool Three match.

Backs coach Sam Vesty heads up the coaching team as Warriors look to restore some pride and confidence after last Saturday’s 55-19 Aviva Premiership derby battering at Gloucester.

Joe Taufete’e, Biyi Alo, Ryan Bower, Marco Mama, Matt Cox, Will Spencer, Andrew Kitchener and Huw Taylor are brought into the pack for the overseas test as Warriors make 13 changes to the previous weekend’s team.

Brive are top of the pool after three wins from four matches and won narrowly 25-24 at Warriors in October.

“They are a big side with a physical scrum and we have to get some tempo into the game and get them moving about,” said Hogg.

“We can do that if we can get the tempo high and if we can get into some shape and decent movement then we can tire out their front five.

“Brive will want a set-piece-maul contest and we have to box clever to make sure we get some multi-phase and retain the ball and stress them through tempo.”

The hosts, among the clubs fancied to progress to the quarter-finals, are eighth in the French Top 14 with eight wins and seven defeats from 16 matches.

Warriors are bottom of the European pool with just one win from four matches and search for a first away triumph in all competitions since beating Harlequins last March.

“Everyone is hurting after last weekend,” said Hogg.

“Bristol (a 28-20 defeat on Boxing Day) was disappointing and we had an excellent rebound against Harlequins (24-17 win) where we looked really solid and really competitive.

“The first 20 minutes blew out at Kingsholm and we never recovered.”

England centre Ben Te’o scored against Brive in the first meeting but missed last Saturday’s derby drubbing with an ankle injury which continues to rule him out.

Flanker Dewald Potgieter is expected to be out for a further “two or three weeks” after rolling his ankle against Quins.

Versatile back Perry Humphreys returns today after recovering from a knee injury he picked up in October.

“We will look at the leadership and it will be about integrating some players back in and playing in our system,” added Hogg. “We will take some frontline senior players out for a week and then re-integrate them the following week.

“Donncha O’Callaghan is registered but we will leave him out and potentially use him next weekend (against Enisei-STM).

“Perry is back and fit and available. He will be integrated over the weekend.”

USA international Taufete’e, who moved to Sixways in December, starts at hooker alongside Alo and captain Bower.

Warriors have named a blend of youth and experience for the trip with Mama and Cox in the back row.

Luke Baldwin makes his first start for the club since the reverse game with Brive at Sixways.

Spencer partners Kitchener in the second row, while Taylor will start at six.

Jamie Shillcock gets another opportunity to impress at fly-half alongside Dean Hammond, Connor Braid, Max Stelling and Ben Howard in the backline.

Warriors have named a strong bench as Jonny Arr could be set for his first appearance in over a month following concussion, while Val Rapava Ruskin, Darren Barry and Ryan Mills are also included.

Warriors: Howard; Humphreys, Stelling, Braid, Hammond; Shillcock, Baldwin; Bower, Taufete’e, Alo, Kitchener, Spencer, Taylor, Mama, Cox. Replacements: Singleton, Rapava Ruskin, Daniels, Barry, Betty, de Cothi, Arr, Mills.