WORCESTER Warriors have received a timely boost ahead of tomorrow's must-win Guinness Premiership Sixways showdown with Bath (3pm) as this season's top points-scorer Shane Drahm returns to the starting line-up.

The kicking ace, who has been playing at full-back to accomodate James Brown at number 10, missed last weekend's devastating 33-19 defeat by rivals Gloucester at Kingsholm with a thigh injury.

Warriors have made three other changes for the crunch encounter.

Drew Hickey returns to the back row at blindside after recovering from concussion and captain Pat Sanderson moves to openside.

Phil Murphy moves up from the bench to start at lock and Darren Morris, a late withdrawal from the Gloucester game, returns in the front row alongside Chris Fortey, who this week signed a new two-year deal with the club.

Fortey is particularly looking forward to what promises to be an intriguing front-row battle. He said: "It's a big derby and any forward battle against a West Country side is doubly important.

"They are a very powerful group of forwards. Our reputations are on the line and we want to put in a good performance."

Fortey still has ambitions to play Premiership rugby next season.

"I want to be part of a successful team," he added. "Potentially this is a massive club and hopefully I can be part of that."

Bath head coach Steve Meehan has brought England internationals Danny Grewcock and Lee Mears back into the starting line-up, while Gareth Delve comes in for Zak Feaunati at number eight.

Nick Abendanon returns at full-back with Joe Maddock reverting to right wing. Nick Walshe replaces Andy Williams at scrum-half.

Meehan's selection indicates he is expecting a difficult encounter. He said: "There is going to be a big effort put into this match, because we know that they will come out at a million miles an hour.

"They have opened their game up and with Shane Drahm running from full-back and running around out wide, he's a handful.

"If they can get the ball into his hands and give him some opportunities, they can give any team in the competition some strife.

"Not many sides beat them by a lot. They are competitive for 80 minutes - they don't go to sleep and to win a game against them, as we saw here at the Rec earlier in the year, you have got to work hard."

Warriors have announced tickets for tomorrow's game are available on the gate.

Worcester: Drahm; Havili, Rasmussen, Trueman, Delport; Brown, Powell; Morris, Fortey, Taumoepeau, Gillies, Murphy, Hickey, Sanderson (c), Horstmann. Replacements: Windo, Lutui, Collier, Harding, Runciman, Tucker, Best.

Bath: Abendanon; Maddock, Fuimaono-Sapolu, Barkley, Bory; Malone, Walshe; Barnes, Mears, Stevens, Borthwick (c), Grewcock, Beattie, Lipman, Delve. Replacements: Dixon, Jarvis, Short, Scaysbrook, Walker, Williams, Berne.