SALE Sharks will have seven players making their Aviva Premiership debuts for the club when they face newly-promoted Worcester today (3pm) with a further three on the bench all set to make a first senior club appearance.

Among the starters will be former Worcester centre Andrew Higgins who signed a one-year deal yesterday.

Sharks’ executive director of sport Steve Diamond said: “We knew we had a shortfall over the World Cup period. Andrew wants to start his career again and we thought this would be a good opportunity for him.”

Higgins, who has also played for Bristol, Bath and Exeter Chiefs, said: “I’m excited to be joining Sale. The boys have been working hard and it’s been a case of getting up to speed.”

Higgins, Joaquin Tuculet, Joe Ward, Vadim Cobilas, Kearnan Myall, Fraser McKenzie and Mark Easter are the new men in the mulberry shirts.

Sharks: Miller; Brady, Higgins, Addison, Tuculet; Mac-leod, Peel; Imiolek, Ward, Cobilas, Myall, McKenzie, Gaskell, Seymour (capt), Easter. Reps: Jones, Croall Thomas, Holmes, Briggs, Mathie, Tonetti, Amesbury.