Exiles v Worcester: Team

London Irish welcome back Seilala Mapusua for Saturday's Guinness Premiership clash with Worcester at the Madejski Stadium.

The centre returns from international duty with Samoa and goes straight into the starting XV in place of Mike Catt.

Coach Toby Booth has made two further changes in the pack, Dan Murphy and Paulica Ion start at loose and tight head prop respectively, from the team that secured an impressive shut-out success at Bath last time out.

There is also an added boost with the return of Tom Homer, who has overcome an ankle injury picked up last month to take a seat on the bench.

Entertaining

"We were delighted with our win in Bath last Saturday," said Booth.

"We want to take the good form we showed at the Recreation Ground into tomorrow's match and return to winning ways at Madejski Stadium.

"Worcester are going well just now. Mike Ruddock and his team will be very pleased with their result against the Premiership leaders last weekend. The Warriors like to play with ball in hand and they have the players to do so.

"We are expecting another entertaining and competitive match."

Worcester director of rugby Mike Ruddock has made three changes to the line-up that started the 12-12 draw with Saracens.

Scrum-half Jonny Arr will make his fourth start of his career for the Warriors with Ryan Powell ruled out with a rib cartilage injury.

Prop Callum Black is also ruled out so Adam Black takes his place in the front row, while Rico Gear is recalled on the wing.

Scotland international Alex Grove is amongst the replacements along with Jack Gilding, Will Bowley and Ollie Frost.

Close encounter

"London Irish like to move the ball around and we have got backs that can do that given the right ball," admitted Ruddock.

"But at the same time, both defences are pretty smart, accurate and difficult to breakdown so again it could be a close encounter.

"We haven't got a great record of late at London Irish, but Newcastle went there and didn't over respect them and got stuck into them.

"They defended strongly and competed at the breakdown. They really made life difficult for them and we have to learn from that and do the same."

London Irish: 15 Jamie Lennard, 14 Peter Hewat, 13 Elvis Seveali'i, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 John Rudd, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Peter Richards, 8 Chris Hala'Ufia, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Richard Thorpe, 5 Bob Casey (c), 4 Nick Kennedy, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 David Paice, 1 Dan Murphy.
Replacements: 16 Danie Coetzee, 17 Clarke Dermody, 18 Alex Corbisiero, 19 Kieran Roche, 20 Jonathon Fisher, 21 Tom Homer, 22 Paul Hodgson, 23 Chris Malone.

Worcester: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Dale Rasmussen, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Willie Walker, 9 Jonny Arr, 8 Kai Horstmann, 7 Pat Sanderson (c), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Adam Black.
Replacements: 16 Jack Gilding, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Olivier Sourgens, 19 Will Bowley, 20 James Collins, 21 Ollie Frost, 22 Calum MacRae, 23 Alex Grove.