THINUS Delport returns to the Worcester Warriors line-up for tonight's Guinness Premiership clash at Leeds Tykes (8pm) after six weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury.

The South African comes in at full-back in place of Nicolas Le Roux, who is ruled out with a back injury.

The back-three is completed by Aisea Havili and Mark Tucker, who have both recovered from dead legs to take their places on the wings.

Matt Powell is preferred to Andy Gomarsall at scrum-half and Chris Fortey returns at hooker in place of Gavin Hickie, who drops to the bench.

Director of rugby John Brain believes his Warriors side are heading in the right direction despite going into the game on the back of defeats to Sale and Leicester.

He said: "If we reflect on the last two weeks, there is no doubt we lost at home to by far and away the best team in the league.

"We showed the right sort of character and executed things pretty well against Leicester. Our attitude and physical commitment was spot on.

"It is a shame that, at the end of the game, we couldn't close it out.

"It is a long time since I have been to Leicester and frustrated the team and the crowd like that."

Leeds have made seven changes to the side beaten by Sale last Friday.

Among those missing are Gordon Ross and David Doherty, who are both on international duty.

Chris Bell returns in the centre after recovering from a hamstring injury, while lock Chris Murphy will go head-to-head with brother Phil.

Leeds director of rugby Phil Davies is not underestimating the challenge.

He said: "Worcester are a club we know very well given our meetings down the years as we both progressed up through the national leagues to the Premiership.

"They have done exceptionally well in the past couple of years and done their city and club proud. They have really put Worcester on the map."

Warriors: Delport; Havili, Rasmussen, Lombard, Tucker; Drahm, Powell; Windo, Fortey, Taumoepeau, Murphy, Gillies, Horstmann, Harding, Hickey

Replacements: Fortey, Hickie, O'Donoghue, Vaili, Gomarsall, Trueman, Whatling.

Tykes: Biggs; Snyman, Craig, Bell, Rees; De Marigny, Marshall; Lensing, Bulloch, Gerber, Murphy, Palmer, Dunbar, Parks, Thomas. Replacements: Shelley, Rawlinson, Hooper, Hyde, McMillan, Blackett, Jones.