Warriors have included new signings George Merrick and Marc Thomas and four first year Three Pears Warriors Academy players in a 41-strong squad for Friday’s friendly against Northampton Saints at Franklins Gardens (kick-off 2pm).
Former Harlequins lock Merrick has joined Warriors from Clermont Auvergne and experienced loosehead prop Thomas from Harlequins for the forthcoming season.
They will have their first outings against Northampton in a match that will be played in four 30 minute quarters, allowing both clubs to give game time to all selected squad players ahead of the start of the 2020/21 Gallagher Premiership season next week.
Wing Harry Spencer, centre Seb Atkinson, fly-half Finn Smith and flanker Jack Forsythe, four of eight new recruits to the Academy, have also been included in the senior squad for the first time.
Spencer, Atkinson, Smith and Forsythe are all expected to appear in either the third or fourth quarters as Warriors and Northampton have agreed to play their less experienced players in the latter stages of the friendly.
Academy back-row forward Morgan Monks is set for his return to action having recovered from the injury that forced him to miss the latter part of last season.
But Warriors are missing eight players who sustained injuries after the 2019/20 season resumed in August plus Team Captain Matt Moulds and tighthead prop Conor Carey who are recovering from longer term injuries.
Club Captain Ted Hill and centre Ollie Lawrence are away with England and fly-half Duncan Weir and number eight Cornell du Preez with Scotland.
Warriors
Backs | Melani Nanai, Chris Pennell, Noah Heward, Jono Kitto, Michael Heaney, Harry Spencer, Oli Morris, Alex Hearle, Scott van Breda, Francois Venter, Seb Atkinson, Ed Fidow, Nick David, Billy Searle, Jamie Shillcock, Finn Smith, Francois Hougaard, Gareth Simpson.
Forwards | Ethan Waller, Marc Thomas, Callum Black, Kai Owen, Niall Annett, Beck Cutting, Isaac Miller, Nick Schonert, Richard Palframan, Joe Morris, Anton Bresler, George Merrick, James Scott, Andrew Kitchener, Joe Batley, Justin Clegg, Marco Mama, Matt Cox, Sam Lewis, Matti Williams, Jack Forsythe, Tom Dodd, Morgan Monks.
Unavailable | Ashley Beck, Will Butler, Conor Carey, Cornell du Preez, Ted Hill, Lewis Holsey, Tom Howe, Perry Humphreys, Ollie Lawrence, Graham Kitchener, Matt Kvesic, Caleb Montgomery, Matt Moulds, GJ van Velze, Duncan Weir.