FLANKER Dewald Potgieter will skipper Worcester Warriors in Sunday's West Midlands derby against Wasps at Sixways (3pm).
Head coach Carl Hogg has made six changes to the side which suffered a 57-22 Aviva Premiership drubbing at Exeter Chiefs last Saturday.
Sam Lewis is set for his first Premiership start in the back row alongside Potgieter and Alafoti Fa'osiliva, who returns from international duty with Samoa.
In the front row, Georgian Jaba Bregvadze is back in the side while Nick Schonert is set for his 50th appearance for the club at tighthead.
The experienced Donncha O’Callaghan returns to the starting line-up in the second row.
In the backs, Jackson Willison starts in midfield to partner Wynand Olivier and winger Cooper Vuna returns to the team following his international debut for Tonga last weekend.
Experienced back-row Phil Dowson is dropped the bench.
New signing Connor Braid is also on the bench along with former Wasps prop James Johnston.
There is no place in the squad for Carl Kirwan or Dean Hammond, who started at Sandy Park last weekend.
Warriors:
15 Chris Pennell
14 Bryce Heem
13 Wynand Olivier
12 Jackson Willison
11 Cooper Vuna
10 Jamie Shillcock
9 Jonny Arr
1 Val Rapava Ruskin
2 Jaba Bregvadze
3 Nick Schonert
4 Donncha O’Callaghan
5 Darren Barry
6 Dewald Potgieter (C)
7 Sam Lewis
8 Alafoti Faosiliva
Replacements
16 Jack Singleton
17 Na’ama Leleimalefaga
18 James Johnston
19 Andrew Kitchener
20 Phil Dowson
21 Michael Dowsett
22 Connor Braid
23 Josh Adams
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article