FORMER England winger and Worcester’s new signing Chris Ashton will make his eagerly anticipated Warriors debut this weekend in Saturday's M5 derby with Gloucester Rugby (kick-off 3.15pm)

The winger was in line to play last weekend against Newcastle Falcons before the game was cancelled due to Covid but now he will finally be let loose as Worcester go in search of a much needed win.

Warriors haven't won a game in any competition since the first round of the Gallagher Premiership season against London Irish and are just four points ahead of bottom-of-the-table Gloucester.

Ashton goes into the match just four tries away from equalling Tom Varndell’s Premiership career record of 92 and he will be facing Gloucester at Kingsholm for the second time this season having played for Harlequins there in a victory on December 6.

Warriors have made four more changes to their starting XV from the side that were beaten at home by Wasps with GJ van Velze named at number eight for his first appearance of the season. He takes the place of Cornell du Preez, who is away on Scotland duty.

Scrum-half Francois Hougaard has recovered from a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the matches at Leicester Tigers and and home to Wasps as Gareth Simpson is given a rest from the squad.

Oli Morris returns in the centre to partner Francois Venter and Andrew Kitchener, who came off the bench against Wasps, will renew his second row pairing with Justin Clegg and his first Premiership match since Boxing Day.

Fly-half Fin Smith, who was an unused replacement against Wasps, is again named on the bench and will become only the second 18-year-old to play for Warriors in the Premiership if he makes his debut.

There are also some noticeable names amongst the substitutes as the likes of Joe Batley and George Merrick are given rare places in the match day squad.

As for the hosts, Gloucester name former Warrior Jack Singleton at hooker and soon to be Worcester player Willi Heinz at scrum-half. 

Warriors | 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Oli Morris, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Nick David, 10 Jamie Shillcock, 9 Francois Hougaard, 1 Ethan Waller, 2 Niall Annett, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Andrew Kitchener, 5 Justin Clegg, 6 Ted Hill (C), 7 Matt Kvesic, 8 GJ van Velze.

Replacements | 16 Isaac Miller, 17 Marc Thomas, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 George Merrick, 20 Joe Batley, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Ashley Beck.

Unavailable | Anton Bresler, Matt Cox, Alex Hearle, Noah Heward, Lewis Holsey, Sam Lewis, Marco Mama, Matt Moulds, Melani Nanai, Billy Searle, Duncan Weir, Matti Williams. International duty | Cornell du Preez, Ollie Lawrence.​