Matt Mullan will captain Worcester Warriors as they look to continue their winning start to the Guinness A League against Leicester Tigers at Sixways Stadium on Monday night (7.30pm kick-off).
Warriors began the new A League campaign in the best possible fashion with a maximum point win over Sale Jets at Heywood Road last Monday.
Academy boss Andrew Stanley has now retained the core of that squad as they prepare to face last year’s finalists and two time winners Leicester.
Mullan will lead the team – in place of first team call-up Tom Wood – and starts at hooker in a front row that also features Callum Black and summer signing Shaun Ruwers.
Rising star Jonny Arr is named at scrum half while Tim Collier continues his return to fitness at lock and second row Graham Kitchener starts just days after penning a new two-year deal at Sixways.
“It’s the first home game in this year’s campaign and it will be a tough challenge from a Leicester side still smarting from the home defeat to Leeds last Monday,” said Stan. “I’m sure that they also won’t have forgotten that the previous time they were beaten at home in the A League was by us.
“Hopefully we can put a performance together that enables the players to showcase their talents to the senior coaches.
“The players are really looking forward to playing at Sixways and hopefully obtaining the same level of support that we generated last year as it really makes a difference to the team.”
* Entry to the stadium pitch fixture is free for debenture and season ticket holders. Normal entry is £3 for adults and free for juniors.
Warriors v Leicester Tigers
15 Tom Wheatcroft
14 Uche Oduoza
13 Alex Grove
12 Gary Trueman
11 Charlie Fellows
10 Joe Carlisle
9 Jonny Arr
1 Callum Black
2 Matt Mullan (c)
3 Shaun Ruwers
4 Tim Collier
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Matt Cox
7 James Collins
8 Craig Everett
16 Ben Gotting
17 Jack Gilding
18 Simon Pitfield
19 Paula Havea
20 Will Runciman
21 Greg Evans
22 Michael Penn