Euan Murray is set to make his Worcester debut tonight after being named in the Warriors’ staring XV to face Perpignan in the Amlin Cup.
The Scotland international comes in at tight head with John Andress dropping to the bench in the only change to the team that narrowly lost 22-19 to Harlequins last Friday.
Murray will face his Scotland teammate Alasdair Strokosch as the flanker as been named at blindside for the French outfit.
The fixture will also be a special occasion for Matt Kvesic and Ed Shervington as they will both play their 50th games for Warriors.
Kvesic starts at openside with Shervington packing down next to Murray at hooker.
Head Coach Richard Hill admitted the game was crucial to Worcester’s hopes of progressing in Europe this season and he expects an exciting game in front of the television cameras.
“It is a really exciting game and on the back of two very good league performances we are in a positive frame of mind,” he said.
“We are desperate to get into the quarter-finals and we are top of the group at the moment. But we know we have a really tough task against a powerful French team.
“They have a quick turnaround as they travel over on Wednesday and play Thursday night so we have got to hit them with everything we can in this first game. If we can get a win in this one, it puts us in a strong position for the second game the following week.”
Along with Strokosch, Perpignan will also count Worcester-born and former England international Luke Narraway at openside and Wales fly-half James Hook in their starting XV.
Former Wasp Richard Haughton will be on the bench.
Worcester: Pennell; Walker, Grove, Matavesi, Lemi; Goode, Hodgson; Ceri Jones, Shervington, Murray, Percival (capt), Chris Jones, Best, Kvesic, Taulava.
Replacements: Lutui, O’Donnell, Andress, Schofield, Betty, Arr, Claassens, Short.
Perpignan : Michel; Sid, Marty, Piukala, Plante; Hook, Cazenave; Taumalolo, Guirado, Mas; Taofifenua, Vahaamahina; Strokosch, Narraway, Tuilagi (capt).
Replacements: Terrain, Schuster, Pulu, Guiry, Mele, Mafi, Haughton, Tchale Watchou