| Venue: Sixways Date: Saturday, 29 January Kick-off: 15:00 GMT Coverage: Updates on BBC local radio and live scores on the BBC Sport website |
Scotland prop Rory Sutherland returns from suspension as Worcester Warriors take on Northampton Saints at Sixways.
Northampton centre Fraser Dingwall, who plays his 50th Premiership game, captains Saints, whose Champions Cup game was postponed last weekend.
Ahsee Tuala and Ollie Sleightholme also come into the backline.
Saints, who have Warriors old boys Phil Dowson and Sam Vesty as part of their backroom team, have won their last eight matches against Worcester, since a 30-15 defeat at Sixways in November 2017.
The sequence includes the 62-14 drubbing – Warriors’ Premiership record home defeat – on their last visit 10 months ago.
They make seven changes to the team which began the European Champions Cup 24-20 loss to Ulster on 16 January.
Prop Paul Hill, lock Api Ratuniyarawa and back-rowers Tom Wood and Juarno Augustus – who has scored four tries in his last four starts – start in the pack.
Dan Biggar is at fly-half for Saints a week before he is due to lead Wales into the 2022 Six Nations against Ireland in Dublin.
Biggar’s Lions team-mate Duhan van der Merwe will be on the wing for Warriors after recovering from illness, while Billy Searle switches to full-back, having contributed 16 points from fly-half in last week’s win over Zebre,
Fin Smith and Gareth Simpson form the half-back pairing in a team showing 10 changes from the one which began their European Challenge Cup game in Italy.
Worcester are 12th in the table and looking for their first Premiership victory since edging out Wasps 32-31 on 4 December, while Saints are fifth after winning on the road at Newcastle on 8 January
Warriors boss Steve Diamond told BBC Hereford & Worcester:
“Northampton are a good side. They have put us to bed a couple of times and we need to close the gap on them. They are well coached and have a great policy in the club where the younger lads, Phil Dowson and Sam Vesty, are going to be in charge next year.
“We’ve scored a lot of tries but the basics of our game are not up to scratch. Our set-piece is not where we want it to be and our defence isn’t where we want it to be.
“We’ve conceded twice as many tries as four or five teams in the league which is a ridiculous stat. That is where our attention is going to focused over the next month.
“It has been a shock to the squad but they have taken it in their stride. The players realise where we sit in the league isn’t acceptable. We are in a results-based business. And it’s the same for the players when contract time comes around if you have not delivered for your club.”
Saints attack coach Sam Vesty told BBC Radio Northampton:
“With a new coach coming in, that usually gives lads a fillip. They’ll come out all guns blazing and it will be a tough game.
“But we’ve got plenty to play for and want to be fighting that fight and winning the power battle.
“In this next five or six weeks when you know you’ve got Prem, Prem, Prem, Prem, Prem, the table can change considerably, so it’s vital we’re in a good place, playing some good rugby.
“If we play good rugby and we can stay healthy, I think we’re going to be in a good place in five, six weeks time.”
Worcester: Searle; Humphreys, Venter, Beck, van der Merwe; Smith, Simpson; Sutherland, Annett, Judge, Batley, Kitchener, Hatherell, T Hill (capt), Kvesic.
Replacements: Miller, E Waller, Tyack, Clegg, Vailanu, Chudley, Williams, Hearle.
Northampton: Tuala; Sleightholme, Dingwall (capt), Hutchinson, Collins; Biggar, Mitchell; A Waller, Matavesi, P Hill, Ribbans, Ratuniyarawa, Wood, Harrison, Augustus.
Replacements: Fish, Iyogun, Carey, Nansen, Coles, James, Grayson, Proctor.
Referee: Ian Tempest (RFU).
