STALWART Neil Lyman has battled his way back into the Worcester Warriors first team.

The evergreen prop has won back his tight-head role from Lee Fortey for Saturday's National One clash with Plymouth Albion (2pm).

Lyman, who has struggled with knee and groin injuries this season, is back in favour for the Brickfields encounter despite Fortey's outstanding form. And the 33-year-old is looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"It should be a great game because they've got a good set up down there," said Lyman. "They've just moved into their new ground which looks the part and they've got a big old pack so it should be a good game. It's nice to be back because I've been a bit frustrated with niggly injuries lately."

There is also a recall for utility forward Mark Gabey who comes back into the second row after a bench place last weekend against Henley. Openside flanker Neil Mason is ruled out after twisting his ankle but that means a return for joint top try scorer Gavin Pfister at seven. Christian Evans is also back, taking the blindside role from Richard Bates.

"The changes are all tactical," said coach Andy Keast. "We've looked at the opposition very closely and the side is named with the game in mind. For example, Lee Fortey has been outstanding in recent games so his omission is not performance related."

In the backs, there is a welcome return for Ben Hinshelwood who this week returned to the club following his World Cup duty for Scotland. He goes straight into the side at full back, while Daren O'Leary reverts to wing.

"Full back is a bit of a make-shift position for Daren," added Keast.

"We're in the lucky position of having a guy who has just played in the World Cup at 15 - nuff said!

"Ben knows and everyone else does that I think his best position is centre but he'll be playing full back this weekend. He's a big player at centre and he'll be a big player at 15.

"Daren has got the nod over Chris Garrard for the other wing spot because Chris hasn't been at the top of his game and Daren has done well for us."

Club skipper Werner Swanepoel is still not ready to start after his knee injury and is again on the bench. "We felt that we would be conservative with 'Smiley', which is unusual for us," added Keast.

Team: Hinshelwood; O'Leary, Hayes, Trueman, Davies; Brown, Powell; Windo, Daly, Lyman, Gabey, Gillies, C. Evans, Pfister, Hickey. Replacements: Swanepoel, Garrard, Officer, Clunis, Fortey, Zaltzman, Bates.