Warriors centre Ollie Lawrence is set to make his comeback from an ankle injury for Cavaliers in Monday’s Premiership Rugby Shield match against Northampton Wanderers at Sixways (kick-off 7.30pm).
Lawrence has not played since he suffered the injury in the European Challenge Cup match against Dragons at Sixways three weeks ago but he has been named in a provisional Cavaliers squad for Monday’s match.
Cavaliers will go into the match seeking their fourth straight win in the competition and as the early pacesetters in the Shield’s Northern Conference.
Cavaliers are the only unbeaten team in the group having inflicted a first defeat of the season on Gloucester United last weekend.
Thirteen of the starting XV that defeated Gloucester have been named in Monday’s squad with Fijian international Ropate Rinakama set for his third and final appearance for the club.
The tighthead prop arrived at Sixways last month on a short-term contract as a medical joker to provide cover while Nick Schonert was recovering from a knee ligament injury. But Schonert regained fitness quicker than expected which has meant limited game time for Rinakama who will return to New Zealand after Monday’s match.
Cavaliers (from)
Backs: Noah Heward, Scott van Breda, Luke Scully, Nick David, Gareth Simpson, Jonno Kitto, Callum Morris, Ollie Lawrence, Elias Craven.
Forwards: Tom Dodd (C), Matt Cox, Morgan Monks, Andrew Kitchener, Justin Clegg, Conor Carey, Beck Cutting, Kai Owen, Lewis Holsey, Ropate Rinakama, James Scott.