EXPERIENCED lock Donncha O’Callaghan might have 94 caps for Ireland but he’s been trying to win the respect of his new Worcester Warriors teammates.

The 36-year-old has been influential in Worcester’s opening three matches and lines up against Newcastle Falcons tomorrow in a crucial Aviva Premiership showdown at Sixways (3pm).

It’s a new club and competition for Cork born-and-bred O’Callaghan, who made more than 250 appearances in 17 years at Munster.

O’Callaghan has formed a strong bond on the pitch with another newcomer, Phil Dowson, the former Northampton Saints and Newcastle Falcons flanker.

“I just find him (Dowson) inspirational, “said O’Callaghan.

“I love how he conducts himself and he won’t ask you to do anything he wouldn’t do himself.

“I want to win his respect and I want him to think I am a decent player and a decent guy. And the same goes for GJ (Gerrit-Jan van Velze).

“We are lucky in the leadership group we have that they walk the walk and they don’t just say it. They show the way with their example and that’s a big thing for me to try to win their respect.”

Dowson has overcome a hip problem to start for Warriors, who are handing a debut to former Waikato Chiefs wing Bryce Heem.

Tom Biggs misses out after a bang on the head in last Saturday’s 24-22 defeat at Gloucester and, surprisingly, centre Wynand Olivier is replaced by Alex Grove.

Prop Val Rapava Ruskin earns his first start and Darren Barry has been recalled to partner O'Callaghan.

Newcastle are bottom of the table after three heavy defeats, including a 41-3 battering at Exeter Chiefs last Sunday.

“Newcastle have lost three games and we have lost two and there’s not an awful lot in it,” said O’Callaghan.

“Rugby is such a fickle game. You win and everything is great and you don’t look so harshly at the bad things. When you lose, you look really harshly at the bad things.

“They have had three weeks of that and watching them on tape, they are a really good team with an unbelievable set of forwards who can punish you. They are quality opposition and we have to hit our straps to be on top of it.”

Falcons welcome back Samoan lock Kane Thompson to a side with five changes from the Chiefs defeat.

Rob Vickers replaces Eric Fry at loose-head prop with Alex Tait dropping to full-back in place of Simon Hammersley and Alesana Tuilagi taking the vacant spot on the wing.

Argentinian Juan Pablo Socino returns, partnering fit-again Chris Harris in the centres.

O’Callaghan said: “Sixways was brilliant against Northampton and that was the reason we won. The crowd gave us a boost and it sometimes gets you home.

“Hopefully, we can make it another intimidating place to be crowd-wise but we know that lies with us on the pitch and how we perform. The crowd buys into what we do.

“We tasted the winning feeling after the Northampton game and we know how it feels to win around your mates - that’s what you strive for.

“It’s not the same feeling I had in the dressing room after Sale or Gloucester. The hurt of a loss is a motivation and it pushes you on to succeed.”

Warriors: Pennell, Heem, Grove, Mills, Vuna, Heathcote, Arrm, Ruskin, Annett, Schonert, O'Callaghan, Barry, Dowson, Mama, Van Velze. Replacements:  Bregvadze, Leleimalefaga, Rees, Cavubati, Cox, Mulchrone, Lamb, Howard.

Newcastle:  Tait, Venditti, Harris, Socino, Tuilagi ,Delany, Young; Vickers,  Lawson,  Welsh, Botha, Thompson, Welch, Latu, Hogg. Replacements: McGuigan, Fry, Vea, Robinson,  Clever, Tipuna, Catterick, Penny.