Warriors v Tigers: Teams
Scrum-half Harry Ellis is back in Leicester's starting XV for the Guinness Premiership trip to Worcester on Saturday.
Last Updated: 07/03/08 1:21pm
Harry Ellis returns to Leicester's starting XV for the Guinness Premiership trip to Worcester on Saturday.
The England scrum-half made his return after 10 months out when he came off the bench in the home win over Leeds last time out.
Alesana Tuilagi also enjoyed a successful comeback from injury in the same match and has been picked on the opposite wing to Tom Varndell.
Ellis' return means Frank Murphy has to move to the bench alongside fly-half Ian Humphreys, who makes way for Andy Goode.
Martyn Corry comes in to captain the side from the second row alongside Louis Deacon, with flanker Ben Pienaar making his first start in the competition.
The 21-year-old is joined in the back row by Brett Deacon and number eight Jordan Crane. The Tigers are missing several regulars due to their participation in the RBS Six Nations tournament.
Unchanged Warriors
Worcester director of rugby Mike Ruddock has unsurprisingly stuck with the same side that won away at Sale last time out.
That victory, the Warriors' first on their travels this season, has given them extra breathing space from bottom club Leeds.
Ruddock's decision was made easier by the fact that several possible starters are missing through injury or illness.
New Zealand international Rico Gear is ruled out due to a virus while Chris Horsman is not available due to an ankle injury.
Fly-half James Brown is also sidelined, though there is better news for Joe Carlisle, who is named amongst the replacements after being a late scratch from the line-up against the Sharks.
The match will be a particularly special day for Thinus Delport as he makes his 100th Premiership appearance.
"Thinus is the ultimate professional, a great player who has played some fantastic rugby this season, many would say the best of his career," said Ruddock.
"He will want to turn in a great performance today to mark his 100th appearance in the top-flight and everyone at the club wishes to congratulate him for hitting this important milestone."
Worcester: 15 Thinus Delport, 14 Marcel Garvey, 13 Dale Rasmussen, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Shane Drahm, 9 Matt Powell; 1 Tony Windo, 2 Aleki Lutui, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 5 Craig Gillies, 6 Tom Wood, 7 Pat Sanderson (capt), 8 Kai Horstmann
Replacements: 16 Matt Mullan, 17 Shaun Ruwers, 18 Will Bowley, 19 Drew Hickey, 20 Ryan Powell, 21 Joe Carlisle, 22 Chris Pennell
Leicester: 15 Sam Vesty, 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Tom Youngs, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Harry Ellis; 1 Boris Stankovich, 2 Mefin Davies, 3 Julian White, 4 Martin Corry (capt), 5 Louis Deacon, 6 Brett Deacon, 7 Ben Pienaar, 8 Jordan Crane
Replacements: 16 Ben Kayser, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Alex Moreno, 19 Gregor Gillanders, 20 Frank Murphy, 21 Ian Humphreys, 22 Matt Cornwell