“ONE or two senior players” will be back “in the mix” for Worcester Warriors’ showdown against Enisei-STM on Saturday (2pm).

England centre Ben Te’o is expected to recover from an ankle problem for a place in Warriors’ squad for the European Challenge Cup clash at Sixways.

They slipped to a 19-12 loss against Enisei in Moscow in October and will need to overcome the Russians to avoid the wooden spoon in Pool Three.

“We will put one or two senior players back in the mix and it’s about building momentum and confidence over the next month to springboard us back into the Premiership,” said Warriors head coach Carl Hogg.

“We will look to integrate some of our guys who have been out for the longer term.

“We are looking at the likes of Francois Hougaard and Bryce Heem getting reintroduced into the group over the next few weeks."

Enisei followed up their opening-day European win against Warriors with a 38-18 home victory against Newport Gwent Dragons.

But the Russians were hammered 43-8 at home by table-topping Brive before going down 38-18 in France.

Enisei’s woes continued at Dragons last weekend when they were beaten 34-10.

Hogg anticipates a “hugely physical” approach from the Russians but says Warriors will be “looking to put on a performance”.

He said: “Enisei are a hugely physical side with a big forward pack who like to drive and are pretty direct so they will present a challenge.

“When you look at their squad they have 13 or 14 of the Russian national side who played at the last World Cup so they are a very experienced group of players.

“When we were out there in October they got themselves into a lead which we couldn’t pull back but it was a very young and inexperienced side we sent out and it was a great learning curve. But we are looking to put on a performance at home.”

Warriors could have an injury concern over fly-half Jamie Shillcock who was withdrawn from their squad ahead of last weekend’s 17-14 defeat at Brive after picking up a hand injury.

But Hogg added: “We came through the match very cleanly which was great. We are starting to get a number of players back into training so it is now looking very competitive and healthy.”