BROTHERS Graham and Andrew Kitchener will line up alongside each other for the first time for Worcester Warriors in Friday’s Premiership Rugby Cup match against Exeter Chiefs at Sixways (7.45pm).

The two locks were on opposing sides when Warriors defeated Leicester Tigers in this competition at Welford Road last November.

Graham’s decision to re-join Warriors after an eight-year absence during the summer means that he is now a team-mate of his younger brother and they have been paired in the second row for the first time for Exeter’s visit.

Warriors have made ten changes to their starting XV with Andrew Kitchener one of the five starters who played at Bath last week.

Loosehead prop Ryan Bower, centre Alex Hearle and full-back Jamie Shillcock will both have their first starts of the season having come off the bench against Leicester and Bath.

Fly-half Jono Lance will become Warriors’ third captain in as many matches after club captain GJ van Velze and Marco Mama, who led the side at Bath.

Flanker Matti Williams is set for his seasonal debut off the bench having recovered from a groin injury and former Oxford University tighthead Joe Morris is also in line for his senior debut as a replacement.

England U20s loosehead prop Kai Owen, whose only first team appearance came as a replacement against Stade Francais in last season’s European Challenge Cup, is also among the replacements.

With the new Gallagher Premiership season on the horizon, boss Rob Baxter says the time has come for his Exeter side to put their ‘foot to the pedal’.

Having used the opening two rounds of this season’s Premiership Rugby Cup to get game time into one half of his first-team squad, the remainder will now get their chance to impress over the final two fixtures.

“As a group we feel we have got the balance right between working hard and giving time to boys to refresh," Baxter said.

"But now the foot has to hit the pedal so to speak, and these guys now have to step up and put in a performance.”

Only second row Stan South is retained from the starting line-up that lost to Leicester Tigers last week as Baxter selects a strong team.

England internationals Dave Ewers, Matt Kvesic and Harry Williams will be among a number of stars on show.

Warriors: Shillcock: Howe, Hearle, Beck, Hammond; Lance (C), Heaney; Bower, Miller, Carey, A Kitchener, G Kitchener, Montgomery, Lewis, du Preez.

Replacements: Cutting, Owen, Morris, Clegg, Williams, Simpson, van Breda, David.

Exeter: Dollman; O'Flaherty, Whitten, Devoto, Woodburn; Simmonds, Maunder; Hepburn, Yeandle (c), Williams, South, Lonsdale, Ewers, Capstick, Kvesic.

Replacement: Poole, Moon, Street, Kirsten, Vermeulen, Maunder, Steenson, Hendrickson.