Boss Richard Hill has reiterated his plans to operate a rotation policy in the early part of the season for the long-term benefit of his squad as Warriors prepare to face Esher Rugby in the RFU Championship on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
Hill is set to keep consistency with his selection for this weekend’s game in Surrey before making changes – after the first block of four games – when Doncaster Knights visit Sixways.
And the Head Coach insists the club must use the opening 11 games of the campaign to try different combinations before building towards the business end of the season and play-offs.
“The squad is being kept stable for the first four games and therefore there have been a number of players that have not been involved in the first team yet,” he said.
“There is method in the madness with the selection policy as we will try out one set of 22 and change combinations a little bit. We have not yet included the likes of Oliver Tomaszczyk, Chris Fortey, Pat Sanderson, Adam Balding, Oriol Ripol and Willie Walker.
“I have explained it fully to the squad what I am doing. I am going with a squad for the first four games and then when we start against Doncaster there will be a number of changes to the 22.
“Some of the players in the current squad will come out and have a development window and depending on what the strength and conditioning staff it will either be a rest or extra weights or fitness. It means we can give them specific targets to get fitter throughout the course of the season.
“Rotation gives everyone a chance to prove what they can do, allows me try combinations and also not flog certain players to death. Everyone gets sufficient rest and that is the strategy for the first half of the season.
“After the first 11 games, when we have played each opponent once, we will know what team we need to select for that particular team. You will then see a more specific selection for the teams we are playing.”
Hill also admits that with his new selection policy in full swing a number of players are champing at the bit to be involved.
“Those not involved are desperate to play – I can understand that. One or two will be envious of those that have played from the start of the season, but that is good because that makes them angry and keen to make an impression.
“In this league you want three or four fresh faces to come in and freshen things up, it gives the whole group extra motivation.
“One or two – Chris Fortey in particular after playing very well in two A League games – are really battling for a place. All being well he will be involved the week after and we can unleash some against Doncaster.”
Meanwhile, Hill praised the performance of a youthful Warriors A team against Northampton Wanderers in the Aviva Premiership A League on Monday night at Franklin’s Gardens.
“There were some very good performances with the stalwarts like Chris Fortey playing very well,” said Hill.
“Young Ollie Frost at scrum half impressed me, Matt Kvesic at Number Eight is an exceptional player and also Andy Short – you could see some real quality in those players.
“Other players like Sam Miller, who I have not seen a lot of, was good and it was a gutsy performance against a strong Northampton team that put all their replacements from the last Saturday on to give them match practice.”