Worcester Warriors v Harlequins: Aviva Premiership preview
By Julian Crabtree
Last Updated: 03/01/16 2:45pm
Worcester boss Dean Ryan says that his side have to respond to the quick-thinking game of Harlequins at Sixways on Sunday.
The Warriors host Quins in their first match of 2016 and Ryan is hoping that home advantage can help exert pressure onto their visitors.
"We've got a unique challenge defensively to cope with Harlequins' speed of thought," said Ryan.
"Danny Care and Nick Evans play with an incredible tempo. The team play with a level of freedom that can catch you by surprise if you assume anything.
"But we're at home and I'd like to think we can put a few things together that can put them under pressure.
"We look like we can score and we are scoring tries while our defence has been outstanding too under much pressure.
"You learn more when you're competitive week in, week out and not just winning random games because of a dropped ball or something.
"We're starting to get into good positions and now the group need to learn how to convert these close games into wins."
Worcester have been boosted with the return of flanker Marco Mama and lock Donncha O'Callaghan while Phil Dowson will once again lead the side from No 8.
Harlequins have made four changes to the side which drew against Gloucester last week.
Charlie Walker and Ross Chisholm start on the wings as Adam Jones and Luke Wallace are named in the front and back rows respectively.
Among the replacements, Owen Evans will look to make his Aviva Premiership debut.
Worcester: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Jonny Arr; 1 Na'ama Leleimalefaga, 2 Niall Annett, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 5 Darren Barry, 6 Matt Cox, 7 Marco Mama, 8 Phil Dowson (c).
Replacements: 16 Ben Sowrey, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Gareth Milasinovich, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Sam Betty, 21 Charlie Mulchrone, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Tom Biggs.
Harlequins: 15. Mike Brown, 14. Charlie Walker, 13. George Lowe, 12. Jamie Roberts, 11. Ross Chisholm, 10. Nick Evans, 9. Danny Care (c); 1. Joe Marler, 2. Dave Ward, 3. Adam Jones, 4. James Horwill, 5. Charlie Matthews, 6. Chris Robshaw, 7. Luke Wallace, 8. Nick Easter.
Replacements: 16. Rob Buchanan, 17. Owen Evans, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. George Merrick, 20. Jack Clifford, 21. Karl Dickson, 22. Ben Botica, 23. Harry Sloan.