JAMES Brown has won the vote in the race for number 10.

Worcester Warriors' fly half will line up against Jonny Wilkinson at Sixways on Sunday in the Zurich Premiership clash with Newcastle Falcons (3.30pm) after edging out Tommy Hayes.

Brown and Hayes battled closely last season for the prized jersey but the ex-London Irish man has the responsibility in Worcester's first taste of Premiership rugby.

"The choice between James Brown and Tommy Hayes was a tough call to make," said head coach Andy Keast.

"Key players have different strengths and James probably controls the game better than Tommy but Tommy is probably a better kicker. James has just nipped in and got the starting spot although Tommy is in the 22."

Neil Cole gets the nod at scrum half while Gary Trueman makes a welcome return after injury and takes his place alongside Ben Hinshelwood in the centre.

"As far as the nines are concerned, they've all trained really well but we feel that Neil Cole and Matt Powell are ahead of Clive Stuart-Smith in their understanding of what we're trying to do," added Keast. "That's understandable at this early stage because he's only just joined Worcester."

In the pack, Neil Lyman is expected to shake off a sternum problem to take his place in a familiar front row but the major surprise is a call-up for lock Tim Collier who only joined on Monday from London Welsh.

Lee Fortey is named on the bench as a front row replacement but will hook if there is a problem with Ben Daly.

"Tim Collier has trained well and has fitted in nicely," said Worcester's director of rugby John Brain. "We feel he will add balance to the second row and there certainly isn't a problem with his fitness.

"He's 135 kilos and only has nine per cent body fat, so he's in pretty good shape.

"We've started with Collier, Leon Greeff and Pat Sanderson in the pack but that's only three new faces. It's important to start with five forwards from last season's pack."

Team: O'Leary; Gollings, Hinshelwood, Trueman, Lombard; Brown, Cole; Windo, Daly, Lyman, Collier, Gillies, Greeff, Sanderson, Hickey. Replacements: Noon, Fortey, Murphy, MacLeod-Henderson, Stuart-Smith, Hayes, Delport.