New signing Netani Talei will make his club debut and giant lock Tim Collier his long-awaited comeback as Warriors kick off the Guinness A League with a trip to Sale Sharks on Monday night (kick-off 7.30pm).
Back row Talei, who has been away on Rugby World Cup duty with Fiji, signed from Doncaster in the summer and will now pull on a Warriors shirt for the first time at Heywood Road.
Lock Collier underwent knee reconstruction and will be aiming to put an injury plagued spell behind him as he returns to action.
Wing Aisea Havili gets his first start since returning from World Cup duty with Tonga and is joined by Gary Trueman, Ben Gotting and Nick Runciman in a powerful looking side that has a blend of experience and youth.
“Following the recent games against Bristol and Exeter United we now face what will be a difficult trip up to Sale,” said Academy Manager Andrew Stanley.
“But the side that has been selected represents a good mix of first team and Academy talent and we’re looking forward to it.”
“We enjoyed success in the Guinness A League last season to claim our highest ever finish, we now look forward to another successful campaign.”
Warriors v Sale Sharks
15 Tom Wheatcroft
14 Uche Oduoza
13 Alex Grove
12 Gary Trueman
11 Aisea Havili
10 Joe Carlisle
9 Nick Runciman
1 Matt Mullan
2 Ben Gotting
3 Callum Black
4 Tim Collier
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Tom Wood (c)
7 Matt Cox
8 Netani Talei
16 Jordan Page
17 Jack Gilding
18 Simon Pitfield
19 Craig Everett
20 Jonny Arr
21 Greg Evans
22 Michael Penn