WARRIORS director of rugby John Brain admits that getting a win in tomorrow's Powergen Cup clash at Leicester Tigers is less important than maintaining a clean bill of health for his squad.
Brain is desperate to come through the game without adding to the 12 players already on the injury list, even though defeat will end Worcester's interest in the competition.
"We've got to look to perform well but the result is not important," said Brain. "Our priority is the Premiership game with Leeds next Friday."
Brain is sending an unfamiliar Worcester team to Welford Road and three academy players join graduates Uche Oduoza and Richard Blaze in the 22.
Steve Sparks, Chris Fortey, Johnny Tuamheloa, Ed O'Donaghue and Oduoza all make their first starts.
Andre van Niekerk and Dale Rasmussen joined Lee Fortey on the long-term injured list on Saturday, but most of the other walking wounded are expected to be fit for the crunch match against the Tykes.
James Brown and Thinus Delport have not yet recovered from their respective knee and quad muscle problems, while Nicolas Le Roux has been suffering from a dead leg and Gary Trueman has an ankle problem.
Of the forwards, Phil Murphy and Tony Windo are being rested because of minor Achilles trouble and Pat Sanderson, who has been training with England this week, has struggled with an arm injury for the last two weeks.
Chris Horsman has also been on international duty but has been unable to train with the Wales squad because of an ankle problem.
Ben Hinshelwood, who reverts to a more familiar position at outside- centre, is captain in Sanderson's absence.
Leicester's side will be led by England skipper Martin Corry, whose return at number eight is one of nine changes from the side that was beaten 24-15 by Newport Gwent Dragons in the same competition last Friday.
Corry will be joined in the starting line-up by five other players who were part of the British Lions squad that toured New Zealand in the summer.
Among those on the bench are England stars Harry Ellis, Louis Deacon and Andy Goode.
Leicester coach Pat Howard said: "Worcester are an even better side than they were last year. Their set-piece is a dominant force in the Guinness Premiership.
"We respect the Warriors, they know what they're doing and if we play like we did against the Dragons we'll lose.
"If we play anything like we know we're capable of we'll win -- that's the simplicity of it sometimes."
Worcester: Hylton; Tucker, Hinshelwood, Lombard, Oduoza; Drahm, Gomarsall; Sparks, C Fortey, Taumoepeau, Collier, O'Donoghue, Vaili, Tuamoheola, Horstmann.
Replacements: MacDonald, Keylock, Blaze, Hickey, Powell, Robinson, Lennard.
Leicester: Murphy; Tuilagi, Smith, Hipkiss, Lloyd; Humphreys, Healey; Rowntree, Chuter, White, Cullen, Kay, Jennings, Skinner, Corry.
Replacements: Buckland, Holford, L Deacon, B Deacon, Ellis, Goode, Vesty.
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