POWERHOUSE Mark Gabey is back to boost Worcester's Premiership victory bid at Headingley.

The 19-stone utility forward comes into the Warriors' side to face Leeds Tykes on Sunday (2.30pm), his first start since recovering from summer knee surgery.

Gabey -- who has played much of his Sixways career at lock -- takes the blindside spot after injury to Leon Greeff.

The former Bath player had an impressive cameo in Saturday's 33-7 victory over Harlequins and will add yet more power to Worcester's pack.

"It was good to see Mark back on Saturday and I thought he got better as the game went on," said John Brain, Worcester's director of rugby.

"We know he can play at six and it adds to an already good forward pack. It's a big pack and let's hope it plays like one. I'm sure it will.

"Physically it's impressive when you have Tim Collier, Craig Gillies, Mark Gabey, Pat Sanderson and Drew Hickey. Add our front row and size-wise, they are a big unit.

"However, they've got to play like big men on Sunday."

Gabey is the only change to the starting line-up against Quins, but new signing Sione Kepu, a winger from New Zealand, could make his Worcester debut after being named on the bench.

"We've got a rough idea of what we have with Sione," added Brain. "He's only come to us this week but, after seeing him in training, we feel he can be an impact player for us at Leeds."

Worcester are on a high after their first ever Premiership victory and Brain believes the squad have taken a big step forward following the win.

"It wasn't a surprise to us that we beat Harlequins. We've got quality players who have taken quite a bit of confidence and self-belief out of Saturday's win," said Brain.

"Leeds haven't got the best of home records and if we can beat them and Harlequins lose to Gloucester, then a bit of a gap opens up between them and us."

Team: Delport; Gollings, Rasmussen, Lombard, Hinshelwood; Brown, Powell; Windo, Daly, Lyman, Collier, Gillies, Gabey, Sanderson, Hickey. Reps: Sparks, Fortey, Van Niekerk, Vaili, Stuart-Smith, Kepu, O'Leary.