WORCESTER Warriors are expected to lean on the experience of England star Ben Te’o for Saturday’s crunch European Challenge Cup clash at Ospreys (3pm).

Te’o, 31, is set to be part of a “relatively strong line-up” for the penultimate Pool Two fixture, knowing a victory at the Liberty Stadium could secure leaders Warriors’ place in the knockout stages.

Worcester have tended to rest their Gallagher Premiership stars for the European competition.

But with five weeks until their next league game and Warriors close to booking a quarter-final spot head coach Rory Duncan is weighing up retaining several of the players that starred in last Saturday’s 21-19 victory over Bath.

“Because of the big break (before our next Premiership match) there is actually a number of games that we can rotate the squad in,” Duncan said.

“Normally what we have done is given the guys that have started most of the games time off.

“We have not done that this time.

“All the players have been in training from the beginning of the week and we will finalise selection tomorrow.

“I think we will handle each week as it comes. For now it is about making the right decisions.

“If players are carrying niggles or injuries we obviously won’t be taking them with us.

“But I am pretty sure that we will finalise a relatively strong line-up.”

Te’o came off the bench to make his first Warriors outing of the season in the 27-21 win over Ospreys at Sixways in October.

Since then Te’o has played for England in the autumn internationals and been on a three-week break.

But the midfield powerhouse is now firmly in Alan Solomons’ plans, starting in Worcester’s past two Premiership matches.

And Duncan admitted fans could “anticipate” seeing Te’o in action this weekend.

“Having a person like Ben with his experience will add a lot of value,” Duncan said.

“The one thing he does give you and I don’t think anyone can argue with it is that he certainly gives you front-foot ball.

“He is a big man and carries really hard.

“In the games against Saracens and Bath he certainly gave us some good front-foot ball to be able to play off.

“It is nice to have a big ball carrier at 12 but in saying that Ryan Mills isn’t the smallest inside centre around so we are fortunate to have both of those guys.”

Warriors are two points clear of second-placed Ospreys after winning three of their first four games with their only defeat coming at Pau last month.

Solomons’ side host bottom club Stade Francais a week on Saturday (1pm).

“The game away at Pau didn’t go our way but we managed to turn things around in the return match at Sixways,” Duncan added.

“This game is going to be a little bit different as it means a lot to both teams.

“With Ospreys being at home as well it will be a tough outing as they have only lost one game at the Liberty Stadium all season.

“We are anticipating a really hard game.”