Worcester v Leeds: Teams
Worcester director of rugby Mike Ruddock has kept faith with the same starting line-up as Warriors face Leeds.
Last Updated: 14/03/08 3:53pm
Worcester director of rugby Mike Ruddock has kept faith with the same starting line-up as he prepares to unleash his Warriors against Leeds at Sixways in the Guinness Premiership on Sunday.
Ruddock has named the same 22 that stunned Leicester Tigers last time out as Warriors prepare for the crunch top-flight encounter on home soil.
New Zealand wing Rico Gear misses out with a viral injury and Wales international Chris Horsman is ruled out with an ankle injury.
Darren Morris and Loki Crichton are unavailable for selection after suffering stingers and Fijian international Netani Talei is out with a knee problem.
Ruddock has given his side a stamp of approval by naming the same starting line-up but warns they will need to be at their best to match a pumped up Leeds side.
Intensity
"Leeds power out the blocks, they are incredibly enthusiastic and they went ahead against us up there," he said.
"They also went 13-0 up against Leicester at Welford Road, which takes a bit of doing, and at half time against Bristol they were up 13-6.
"Part of our game plan is match that enthusiasm, endeavour and intensity - if we don't do that then we could find ourselves on the back foot at half time and come back out chasing the game.
"We've been doing our homework on Leeds and making sure we have looked at everything very closely to make sure we there are no surprises for us and then we can make a game plan to deal with them," he added.
"If we win Leeds will have to do well to come back, we can never say they are out of it totally for example, who would of thought that two weeks ago we would go up to Sale and win."
Tykes news
Meanwhile, giant second rower Erik Lund will return to the starting line up for rock-bottom Leeds.
Lund was a half-time replacement for Jon Dunbar in last week's loss to Bristol after the latter suffered an Achilles injury.
Kearnan Myall will start at blindside flanker in place of Dunbar, who will face a late fitness test before taking his place on the bench.
Rhys Oakley will travel with the squad on standby should Dunbar fail his fitness test.
Leeds: 15 L Hinton, 14 J Holtby, 13 J Hepworth, 12 A Tuilagi, 11 T Biggs, 10 A Di Bernardo, 9 J Bedford, 8 A Balding, 7 H Fourie, 6 K Myall, 5 E Lund, 4 S Hooper (capt), 3 T McGee, 2 V Ma'asi, 1 M MacDonald,
Replacements:16 A Hopcroft, 17 R Rawlinson, 18 J Dunbar, 19 C Clark, 20 J Brooks, 21 L Blackett, 22 R Vickerman.
Worcester: 15 T Delport, 14 M Garvey, 13 D Rasmussen, 12 S Tuitupou, 11 M Benjamin, 10 S Drahm, 9 M Powell, 8 K Horstmann, 7 P Sanderson (capt), 6 T Wood, 5 C Gillies, 4 G Rawlinson, 3 T Taumoepeau, 2 A Lutui, 1 T Windo
Replacements: 16 M Mullan, 17 S Ruwers, 18 W Bowley, 19 D Hickey, 20 R Powell, 21 J Carlisle, 22 C Pennell.