DALE Rasmussen ends a frustrating seven-week spell on the sidelines in tonight's key sell-out clash with Bristol at Sixways (8pm).

The Samoan centre returns to the Worcester Warriors line-up following the knee injury he suffered in the Powergen Cup defeat to Northampton on October 1.

Rasmussen will be chasing his first try of the season in the maiden Premiership meeting with Bristol, last season's Division One champions who saw off rock-bottom Leeds 32-6 five days ago.

The 28-year-old also started against Wasps, Saracens, London Irish and Gloucester, but Nicolas Le Roux was the only back to score during that time.

Rasmussen is joined in the starting 15 by lock Craig Gillies, who missed last Friday's 24-13 defeat at leaders Sale due to a calf strain.

Replacements

New hooker Gavin Hickie is named among the Warriors replacements and could win a debut at some point.

Bristol were tipped to be among the Guinness Premiership relegation battlers with Worcester at the start of the campaign.

However, Warriors have defied the critics with a terrific start to the season although they bid for a return to winning ways tonight after a second league defeat of the season at Sale ended a four-match winning run.

Bristol have been a surprise package too with three wins from seven games taking them up above Bath, Northampton, Newcastle and win-less Leeds.

However, they have not triumphed away from home in the Premiership since September 11, a 16-14 win at Newcastle, and Worcester lead the Division One clashes between the sides 3-1.

Bristol head coach Richard Hill has the luxury of naming an unchanged starting 15 which is a big vote of confidence in a squad that have competed superbly in recent weeks.

On the bench is former Warriors fly-half Tommy Hayes who joined Bristol on a two-year deal in late May.

Hill said: "We know what Worcester are like. 'Brainer's' theory will be to soften us up up front. That's always been his way. He won't want the ball to go outside the forwards for the first 20 or 30 minutes!

"They'll try and drive us and, once we're softened up, they'll move the ball around a bit. I think our forwards know what to expect. It'll be a test for us as it's a very tribal atmosphere at Worcester. Their crowd is very much like the old Gloucester crowd -- very, very vocal. It'll be a test."

Warriors: Le Roux; Havili, Rasmussen, Lombard, Delport; Drahm, Gomarsall; Windo, C Fortey, Taumoepeau, Murphy, Gillies, Horst-mann, Tuamoheloa, Hickey. Replacements: Hickie, Fortey, O'Donoghue, Vaili, Powell, Brown, Hinshelwood.

Bristol: Going; Lima, Higgitt, Cox, Lemi; Strange, Perry; Hilton, Regan, Crompton, Winters, Llewellyn, Salter, El Abd, Lewis. Replacements: Clarke, Nelson, Sambucetti, Morgan, Rauluni, Hayes, Stanojevic.