WORCESTER badminton ace Simon Archer is excited at teaming up with new partner Anthony Clark ahead of next summer's World Championships.

A shake-up of England's top two men's doubles partnerships has seen Nottinghamshire-based Clark end his association with Nathan Robertson, who will now pair up with Archer's former partner Robert Blair.

It is the first time former Olympic medallist Archer and left-handed Clark have played together and their rivalry with Robertson and Blair over the coming year is eagerly anticipated. Both new-look partnerships make their bow on next month's World Grand Prix circuit when they tackle the Singapore and Chinese Opens.

They will also take part in the five-match Carlton Hi-Tec England v Germany Tour which includes a match at Birmingham Sports Centre on November 25. Archer, 31, who receives an MBE next Wednesday for services to the sport, said the scramble will now be on to rack up ranking points in the countdown to the World Championships next August.