Last hurrah for Rasmussen (above) and Hortsman

Long-serving back row Kai Horstmann will captain Warriors in his final game for the club at Sixways Stadium as Worcester welcome London Irish in the Aviva Premiership on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 3pm).

Horstmann will lead the side and his vice-captain will be hard running centre Dale Rasmussen who also plays his final game for Warriors at Sixways.

Head Coach Richard Hill makes a total of five changes to the side narrowly lost out to Exeter Chiefs.

A new-look back row sees Horstmann play at Number Eight while flankers Sam Betty and Jake Abbott win recalls. The other change in the pack comes in the front row where Ed Shervington will join forces with Matt Mullan and Tevita Taumoepeau.

Scrum half Jonny Arr is the final change in a back division that will also see farewell games for wing duo Miles Benjamin and Marcel Garvey before they start new challenges in the summer.

“We need a good result and have plenty of incentive to perform against a dangerous London Irish team who I fully expect to play without pressure and with real ambition,” said Hill. “When we played them at the Madejski Stadium back in October we saw the clinical attacking threat they possess and so we must be strong defensively and look to build on an encouraging attacking display against Exeter Chiefs.

“It is sad to see a number of Warriors play their final game for the club at Sixways. I hope we can give them a good send-off with our fans given the chance to show them their respect while they get the chance to say goodbye.”

Starting XV:
15 Chris Pennell
14 Marcel Garvey
13 Alex Grove
12 Dale Rasmussen
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Andy Goode
9 Jonny Arr
1 Matt Mullan
2 Ed Shervington
3 Tevita Taumoepeau
4 James Percival
5 Craig Gillies
6 Sam Betty
7 Jake Abbott
8 Kai Horstmann (c)

Replacements:
16 Aleki Lutui
17 George Porter
18 Bruce Douglas
19 Ben Gulliver
20 Matt Kvesic
21 Shaun Perry
22 Danny Gray
23 Ravai Fatiaki