Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock has backed fly half Willie Walker to shine when he comes face-to-face with current employers Gloucester Rugby on Sunday (kick-off 3pm).
Walker joined Worcester Warriors on loan from Gloucester in February until the end of the season.
The versatile back is eligible to face current club Gloucester in the Guinness Premiership encounter on Sunday and has now been handed a starting spot by Ruddock.
And the Sixways chief knows Walker is mentally strong enough to face the unique challenges of this derby day.
“The agreement that was taken out with them (Gloucester) was that he was on loan until the end of the season so he is allowed to play against them,” said Ruddock.
“There was nothing to stop him fronting up against his old club and certainly it wasn’t ever in the loan agreement to stop him playing.
“As far as we are concerned he was always able to play, he was loaned to us for the duration and that includes two games against Gloucester.
“It will be unusual for him and if at the first lineout he lines up on their side and gives them a 16-14 advantage we will have to point him in the other direction,” joked Ruddock.
“It will be a tough mental test for Willie, in a lot of ways he will be playing against his friends and we will expect him to go out there and turn his friends over.
“He will have to nail his mates in a big tackle and mentally he has to get his head around that. But he is a professional and his insight into Gloucester has been fantastic and very helpful.
“At this moment of time, he is on loan to us and as such we are paying his salary, he has got a responsibility to us to deliver the best he can and I have no doubt he will do a very good job for us.”