CAPTAIN GJ van Velze will make his first Aviva Premiership appearance since late November on Sunday as Worcester Warriors battle high-flying Exeter Chiefs at Sixways (3pm).

The South African is one of six changes to the starting 15 that pushed Wasps earlier this month in a 32-22 defeat with the welcome return of winger Bryce Heem, who recently got married back in his native New Zealand.

Flanker Marco Mama signed a deal this week to join Warriors on a permanent basis at the end of the season and will partner van Velze and the experienced Phil Dowson in the back row.

Scrum-half Luke Baldwin is rewarded for his displays in Europe with a starting berth, while stand-off Tom Heathcote and lock Darren Barry come back after knocks.

New signing James Johnston is among the replacements and could be set for his Warriors debut, while Dean Hammond is also on the bench after signing a new deal with the club earlier this week.

Second-placed Exeter, who have never lost to Worcester in the top flight, have Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam Hill back from England training on the bench.

Internationals Tomas Francis and Michele Campagnaro both start despite reporting for Six Nations camps at the start of the week with Wales and Italy respectively.

Making his first Premiership start is young lock Jonny Hill alongside the experienced Geoff Parling, who has recovered from a head wound.

Scrum-half Will Chudley and flanker Julian Salvi also return in the match, which will be televised live on BT Sport.

Warriors: Pennell; Heem, Olivier, Mills, Vuna; Heathcote, Baldwin; Leleimalefaga, Annett, Schonert, O'Callaghan, Barry, Dowson, Mama, van Velze. Replacements: Sowrey, Bower, Johnston, Cavubati, Cox, Mulchrone, Symons, Hammond.

Exeter: Dollman; Woodburn, Campanaro, Whitten, Short; Steenson, Chudley; Hepburn, Yeandle, Francis, J Hill, Parling, Armand, Salvi, Waldrom. Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Moon, Brown, Atkins, Horstmann, Lewis, Hooley, S Hill.