CHRIS Catling will be handed his Worcester Rugby Club debut after being drafted in from Gloucester.

The 26-year-old, who has fallen down the Kingsholm pecking order under Nigel Melville, has signed on at Sixways for the next two months.

The former Exeter full back will cover for the injured Duncan Roke who is still struggling with a broken finger, and will start as Worcester go head to head with Coventry in Saturday's National One showdown at Sixways (3pm).

Director of rugby John Brain is delighted to have the former England A man to call upon.

"I know him from my Gloucester days and he is a quality player," said Brain. "I think many people are surprised at just how limited his first team chances have been this season.

"Duncan Roke is out of the Coventry game and is a doubt for the Orrell match next week. We also have Craig Hudson ruled out due to illness so Chris is a good addition to the squad and a timely one.

"Chris is very experienced, has played at the top level and for England A. January will be a vital month for us so we feel that his experience will be important. I've seen him this season and, every time I've watched him, he's impressed me."

Worcester have received another boost with the return to fitness of Christian Evans following a collarbone injury. The back row ace, who has been out for two months, will be on the bench against Coventry.

Mark Gabey returns to the side following a one-match suspension while Gavin Pfister gets the openside spot. Neil Lyman is preferred to Adrian Olver at tighthead while Gary Trueman returns to inside centre following his shoulder problem.

New signing Will Wigram, who missed the chance to sit on the bench in the Powergen Cup defeat at Leicester due to an RFU administration error, is not involved.

Brain has instead plumped for James Ogilvie-Bull in the match-day 22 but admitted he would have liked the chance to give Wigram some game time at Welford Road.

"We've received an apology from the RFU because of the error," said Brain. "That's all very nice but we wanted to see Will in a cup game.

"We think James Ogilvie-Bull has done well in the last few weeks and his inclusion in this squad is on the back of that improvement."

Worcester: Catling; Ezulike, Hinshelwood, Trueman, Garrard; Walsh, Swanepoel; Windo, Hall, Lyman, Zaltzman, Morgan, Gabey, Pfister, Jenner. Replacements: O'Reilly, Chalmers, Ogilvie-Bull, Evans, Gillies, Pearl, Olver.