Brothers Graham and Andrew Kitchener will line up alongside each other for the first time for Warriors in Friday’s Premiership Rugby Cup match against Exeter Chiefs at Sixways (kick-off 7.45pm).
The brothers, both locks, were on opposing sides when Warriors defeated Leicester Tigers in this competition at Welford Road last November.
Graham’s decision to re-join Warriors after an eight-year absence during the summer means that he is now a team-mate of his younger brother and they have been paired in the second row for the first time for Exeter’s visit.
Warriors have made ten changes to their starting XV with Andrew Kitchener one of the five starters who played at Bath last week.
Loosehead prop Ryan Bower, centre Alex Hearle and full-back Jamie Shillcock will both have their first starts of the season having come off the bench against Leicester and Bath.
Fly-half Jono Lance will become Warriors’ third captain in as many matches after club captain GJ van Velze and Marco Mama, who led the side at Bath.
Flanker Matti Williams is set for his seasonal debut off the bench having recovered from a groin injury and former Oxford University tighthead Joe Morris is also in line for his senior debut as a replacement.
England Under-20s loosehead prop Kai Owen, whose only first team appearance came as a replacement against Stade Francais in last season’s European Challenge Cup, is also among the replacements.
Warriors
15 Jamie Shillcock
14 Tom Howe
13 Alex Hearle
12 Ashley Beck
11 Dean Hammond
10 Jono Lance (C)
9 Michael Heaney
1 Ryan Bower
2 Isaac Miller
3 Conor Carey
4 Andrew Kitchener
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Caleb Montgomery
7 Sam Lewis
8 Cornell du Preez.
Replacements
16 Beck Cutting
17 Kai Owen
18 Joe Morris
19 Justin Clegg
20 Matti Williams
21 Gareth Simpson
22 Scott van Breda
23 Nick David.
Exeter Chiefs | 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Jack Maunder, 1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Jack Yeandle (C), 3 Harry Williams, 4 Stan South, 5 Sean Lonsdale, 6 Dave Ewers, 7 Richard Capstick, 8 Matt Kvesic.
Replacements | 16 Jordon Poole, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Sam Maunder, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Tom Hendrickson.