Former Worcester Warriors favourite Matt Mullan will skipper Wasps at Sixways

The centre signed for Warriors earlier this week after a month of speculation and goes straight into the side for Worcester’s second preseason match.

Former Warriors favourite Matt Mullan will skipper Aviva Premiership rivals Wasps, who have named a 27-man squad for the derby, including former England wing Christian Wade.

Olivier lines-up alongside Alex Grove, while Chris Pennell, Sam Smith and Tom Biggs are the back three.

The half-back combination sees Ryan Lamb partner Charlie Mulchrone.

Marco Mama, who is on loan from Bristol, and former Cornish Pirate Darren Barry will make their first Warriors starts as they lineup in Worcester’s forwards.

Mama is included alongside Sam Lewis and captain Gerrit- Jan van Velze in the back row, while Barry partners Darren O’Shea.

Val Rapava Ruskin, Niall Annett and Nick Schonert are named in the front row.

Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan has included 12 replacements on the bench as his side continue their preparations for their Premiership curtain-raiser against Northampton Saints on October 16.

Ryan believes Warriors’ squad will be tested over the next eight months and has not ruled out any further signings ahead of their Premiership bow.

“The depth of the squad is going to be test to the maximum,” said Ryan. “This squad isn’t about seeing whether we can survive, it’s seeing if we can do ourselves justice during the season.”

Warriors: Pennell; Smith, Grove, Olivier, Biggs; Lamb, Mulchrone; Ruskin, Annett, Schonert, Barry, O’Shea, Mama, Lewis, van Velze.

Replacements: George, Leleimalefaga, Rees, Sanderson, Cox, Arr, Heathcote, Fatiaki, Betty, Ryan Mills, Dowson, Howard.

Wasps: Miller, Wade, Macken, Downey, Bassett, Gopperth, Robson; Mullan, Johnson, Cooper-Woolley, Cannon, Gaskell, Jones, Young, Hughes. Replacements: Shervington, McIntyre, Stuart, Myall, Rowlands, Smith, Rieder, Stevenson, Jackson, Lozowski, Daly, Tagicakibau.