MATT Powell has been given the nod for the first part of Worcester's European Challenge Cup double-header with Irish side Connacht.

The scrum-half has been named in the starting line-up ahead of Andy Gomarsall for tomorrow's Sixways showdown (2pm), which could determine who tops the group.

Chris Horsman will make his first appearance in a Warriors shirt since October 14. The Welsh tight-head has seen his club action limited by suspension and international duty.

Another player to return after representing his country is Pat Sanderson, who captains Worcester for the first time since the opening European Challenge Cup match with Montpellier.

With Aisea Havili unavailable after starting the season with Llanelli Scarlets, Uche Oduoza has been named on the wing.

Their opponents haven't won a Celtic League fixture since September 3, but it is a different story in European competition. Connacht have won both their matches this season, including a 19-16 win at Montpellier.

Director of rugby John Brain is under no illusions about the size of the task. Defeats in either this game or next week's trip to Galway could seriously undermine their challenge for Heineken Cup rugby next season.

"We've seen a little bit of them," Brain said of Connacht. "They are an extremely difficult side to beat at home. And they can cause you problems away, especially if you don't defend very well and don't get your set-piece right.

"We'll be on our guard. They have had good results in this group and really it is between us and them probably as to who progresses to the quarter-finals."

Both sides have nine points from their first two games but Worcester are keen to wrap up the group before they travel to Montpellier at the end of January.

Warriors: Le Roux; Oduoza, Rasmussen, Lombard, Delport; Drahm, Powell; Windo, Fortey, Horsman, Murphy, Gillies, Horstmann, Sanderson, Hickey. Replacements: Sparks, Fortey, O' Donoghue, Tuamoheloa, Gomarsall, Brown, Whatling.

Connacht: Mostyn; Hearty, Yapp, Mat-thews, McPhillips; Slemen, Keane; Hogan, Fogarty, Knoop, Short, Farley, Muldoon, Lacey, Rig-ney. Reps: Merrigan, Clarke, Gallagher, Swift, Tierney, Warwick, Robinson.