WORCESTER Warriors centre Andy Symons is set for his 50th club appearance against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road tomorrow (3pm).

The 24-year-old is one of three changes to Warriors' starting 15 who lost 54-35 against high-flying Wasps at Sixways a fortnight ago.

Symons, who starred after coming on against Wasps, is joining London Irish at the end of the campaign.

Hooker Niall Annett and giant lock Tevita Cavubati are also picked to face the Tigers.

Symons partners Ryan Mills in the centre with Bryce Heem returning to his more familiar place on the wing.

Cooper Vuna and full-back Chris Pennell complete the back three, while Francois Hougaard and Tom Heathcote form the half-back combination.

Annett partners props Val Rapava Ruskin and Nick Schonert in the front row, while Cavubati comes into the side for Donncha O’Callaghan in the second row next to Darren Barry.

Phil Dowson and Carl Kirwan maintain their places in the back row with skipper Gerrit-Jan van Velze at number eight.

Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan said: “We recognise the scale of the challenge. Welford Road is one of the toughest places to go historically.

“We’ve spent a lot of time challenging the group in how we want to perform in these final two games.

“We recognise it’s a different environment to what we’re used to but it’s important to get our best performance out there which will serve us in good stead going into next year.”

Meanwhile, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Ed Slater return to the Leicester Tigers line-up.
 
Italy international hooker Ghiraldini is back in action after a shoulder injury suffered during the Six Nations, while club captain Slater is named in the back row.
 
Owen Williams comes in at fly-half after Freddie Burns suffered an ankle injury in the Champions Cup semi-final against Racing 92 last weekend.
 
With Manu Tuilagi sidelined after suffering a knee injury against Racing, Mathew Tait moves into the midfield, with Telusa Veainu taking over at full-back and Adam Thompstone claiming a place on the wing.
 
Sam Harrison comes in at scrum-half, with England international Ben Youngs joining fellow Grand Slam winner Dan Cole among the replacements.

Young flanker Will Evans is also included in the matchday squad.
 
Warriors

15 Chris Pennell

14 Bryce Heem

13 Andy Symons

12 Ryan Mills

11 Cooper Vuna

10 Tom Heathcote

9 Francois Hougaard

1 Val Rapava Ruskin

2 Niall Annett

3 Nick Schonert

4 Tevita Cavubati

5 Darren Barry

6 Phil Dowson

7 Carl Kirwan

8 GJ van Velze (c)

Replacements:

16 Jaba Bregvadze

17 Na’ama Leleimalefaga

18 James Johnston

19 Donncha O’Callaghan

20 Sam Betty

21 Luke Baldwin

22 Ryan Lamb

23 Dean Hammond

Leicester Tigers

15 Telusa Veainu
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Peter Betham
12 Mathew Tait
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Owen Williams
9 Sam Harrison

1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Dom Barrow
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Ed Slater (c)
7 Lachlan McCaffrey
8 Opeti Fonua
             
Replacements
16 Greg Bateman
17 Ellis Genge
18 Dan Cole
19 Tom Croft
20 Will Evans
21 Ben Youngs
22 Tommy Bell
23 Matt Smith