WORCESTER Warriors have made a Niekerk reaction to defeat at Leeds.

The Premiership new boys go head to head with Gloucester tomorrow at Sixways (2pm) for a mouth-watering derby battle.

Following Sunday's 24-19 loss at Headingley, coaches John Brain and Andy Keast have made three changes to the line-up including handing a full debut to hooker Andre Van Niekerk.

The South African comes into a revamped front row alongside fellow new signing Chris Horsman who makes his belated debut after breaking his hand pre-season.

The other change sees Ben Gollings dropped to the bench, after a poor display at Leeds, with Daren O'Leary taking his place on the wing.

Brain, Worcester's director of rugby, was keen to bulk up his front row with the visit of Gloucester and the weather now beginning to affect tactics.

"When we signed Chris Horsman, we did so believing he would be a key player for us," said Brain. "He's fit, his hand has recovered and he's hungry for action.

"We need his power, his physicality and his attitude on the pitch from the start. With Van Niekerk, I think we've seen enough of him now to start him. Ben Daly has done very well for us, but because of the physical nature of the opposition and the threat they pose, we have decided to go with Van Niekerk."

O'Leary makes his first start since the 57-3 drubbing at Sale last month with Worcester hoping to counter act the wing challenge of James Simpson-Daniel.

There is no place in the 22 for new signing Giscard Pieters after his move this week but Kiwi bulldozer Sione Kepu is on the bench and will be hoping for another big impact in the second half. Fly-half Tommy Hayes was due to undergo a fitness test later today to see if he could make the replacements bench.

Team: Delport; O'Leary, Rasmussen, Lombard, Hinshelwood; Brown, Powell; Windo, Van Niekerk, Horsman, Collier, Gillies, Gabey, Sanderson, Hickey. Reps from : Sparks, Fortey, Vaili, Daly, Gollings, Stuart-Smith, Kepu, Hayes, Trueman.