EXPERIENCED centre Alex Grove is poised to make his first Worcester Warriors start for almost two months in Saturday’s clash at bottom-of-the-table Plymouth Albion (5pm).

The former Scotland international was an instant pick for Warriors’ last term but has seen his opportunities limited in this season’s Greene King IPA Championship.

Grove started the first three league matches and came on as a replacement for Andy Symons in Warriors’ win against Nottingham on September 27.

But Max Stelling has grabbed the number 13 shirt for the last three games.

Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan said: “Grove is desperate for it and we will give him an opportunity this weekend. I am pretty happy with Stelling’s progress and that doesn’t undermine that I am really happy with Grove but I just haven’t given him many chances.

“This club has played people 25 times on the bounce for years because they didn’t really have any other options and because it got so entrenched in the here and now they looked past it.

“Without a doubt, Alex has his chance this weekend to remind us of why he was our first choice last year and that hasn’t gone away in my head.

“Now is the chance to see if Alex can come in above Stelling and then we can go back to Max who I think has an awful lot of potential.”

Warriors sealed an emphatic 42-12 win against Bedford Blues at Sixways last week and Ryan expects to give other players an opportunity to shine at winless Albion.

“We will make some changes again,” said Ryan.

“We have to get over the hurdle at Plymouth and, at the same time, keep ourselves moving up a notch from last week.

“This weekend is a bit more about people responding to challenges and seeing where they are.

“I am building a database of who I think is going to be involved when we have to make clear-cut selections.

“When you analyse Plymouth they are reasonably well organised and well coached and make a lot of mistakes which is where the league table doesn’t lie.

“But they are a side that tries to play and are a dangerous because they are not constantly going to make mistakes.”

Prop Nick Schonert is still struggling with a knee injury and Ryan said fit-again Chris Pennell is unlikely to be introduced until Warriors’ home match against Jersey on November 21.

But back-row Andries Pretorius has suffered a setback in his recovery from a calf injury.

“There are some elements of his recovery which we don’t understand,” said Ryan.

“It’s tough for him when he’s desperate to make an impression at a new club.”