Team News | Seb Atkinson to make first Premiership start against champions

Centre Seb Atkinson will make his first Gallagher Premiership start for Warriors in Friday’s match against reigning champions Harlequins at Sixways (kick-off 7.45pm).

Atkinson made his debut in the competition as a second-half replacement at Sale Sharks two weeks ago and he now comes into the starting XV to form a new centre pairing with Oli Morris.

Morris returns to the side for the first time in five weeks and is one of four changes to the side that beat Bristol Bears last week.

Noah Heward replaces Jamie Shillcock, who sustained an ankle injury against Bristol, at full-back and will make his first appearance in almost four months having recovered from a fractured ankle earlier than expected.

Alex Hearle moved from centre to the left wing to replace Duhan van der Merwe who is back on Six Nations duty with Scotland this weekend.

There is one change in the pack where Club Captain Ted Hill returns having recovered from a sore back.

On the bench, Tom Howe is in line to make his 50th appearance for the club since he arrived at Sixways from Wasps in 2017.

Centre Ashley Beck and back-row forward Matt Kvesic are both unavailable this week due to illness.

Warriors | 15 Noah Heward, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Oli Morris, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Gareth Simpson, 1 Murray McCallum, 2 Niall Annett, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Matt Garvey, 5 Graham Kitchener, 6 Joe Batley, 7 Ted Hill (C), 8 Sione Vailanu.

Replacements | 16 Isaac Miller, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Jay Tyack, 19 Andrew Kitchener, 20 Justin Clegg, 21 Will Chudley, 22 Billy Searle, 23 Tom Howe.

Harlequins | 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Oscar Beard, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Will Edwards, 9 Danny Care, 1 Simon Kerrod, 2 Jack Walker, 3 Will Collier, 4 Matt Symons, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Stephan Liewes (C), 7 Tom Lawday, 8 Archie White.

Replacements | 16 Sam Riley, 17 Jordan Els, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 George Hammond, 20 Matas Jurevicius, 21 Lewis Gjaltema, 22 Tommy Allen, 23 Louis Lynagh.

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