SIX changes have been made to the Worcester Warriors side from the last league outing when they travel north to Face Newcastle Falcons on Friday evening in the Gallagher Premiership. 

Warriors lost 27-5 at Bristol Bears at the start of November and from that team, Worcester have made a number of alterations as they look to build on last weekend's 68-13 thrashing of Bristol in the Premiership Rugby Cup.

Scotland international Duhan van der Merwe has shaken off a knock to return to the starting line-up after starring in the last three of Scotland’s Autumn Nations Series matches.

Tongan Sione Vailanu is also recalled in the back-row after making two appearances for his country during the international window. 

Vailanu started against England three weeks ago and came on as a second half replacement in Tonga’s defeat by Romania in Bucharest last Saturday.

A trio of first Premiership starts of the season have been handed out to players who impressed during that big cup victory over Bristol.

Wing Alex Hearle was arguably the man of the match last weekend and he takes his place in the back three.

Scrum-half Gareth Simpson scored two tries against Bristol and has been picked at scrum-half, whilst tighthead prop Jay Tyack will also make his first league start in the front row.

The final changes sees Kyle Hatherell return from injury and take his place alongside Vailanu and Club Captain Ted Hill in the same back-row that featured against Sale.

Which means the likes of Ollie Lawrence, Rory Sutherland and Melani Nanai haven't been deemed fit enough for this week. 

But they are expected to be okay to feature against Wasps at Sixways next weekend.

As for the visitors, they welcome back their England quartet of Adam Radwan, Trevor Davison, Jamie Blamire and Callum Chick to their squad.

Winger Radwan and prop Davison are both brought back into the starting XV, with Blamire and Chick being deployed from the bench.

Lock Sean Robinson returns from injury and the likes of Mike Brown, Pete Lucock, Ben Stevenson, Louis Schreuder, Philip van der Walt, Will Welch and Carl Fearns all come in following a fortnight of cup games.

Warriors | 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Alex Hearle, 13 Francois Venter (CC), 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Gareth Simpson, 1 Ethan Waller, 2 Scott Baldwin, 3 Jay Tyack, 4 Matt Garvey, 5 Andrew Kitchener, 6 Kyle Hatherell, 7 Ted Hill (CC), 8 Sione Vailanu.

Replacements | 16 Niall Annett, 17 Marc Thomas, 18 Christian Judge, 19 Joe Batley, 20 Sam Lewis, 21 Will Chudley, 22 Billy Searle, 23 Oli Morris.