SCRUM-half Nick Runciman will start Worcester Warriors' crunch Guinness Premiership clash with Bristol after Matt Powell's dramatic late withdrawal.

Powell was named in the number nine shirt for Saturday's televised Memorial Stadium encounter (2.45pm) after seemingly making a miraculous recovery from an ankle ligament injury.

But, after Friday's final training session, the decision was made to pull him out of the squad. Academy prospect Jonny Arr has been named as the replacement scrum-half with Ryan Powell listed as injured.

Skipper Pat Sanderson returns from injury to lead the Warriors. England international Sanderson has missed the last two top-flight games with Sale Sharks and Newcastle Falcons with a broken hand but now returns at openside in place of Tom Harding.

Sanderson's return means that Kai Horstmann moves to blindside flanker with Drew Hickey switching to number eight.

Prop Darren Morris is handed a starting spot with Tony Windo on the replacements bench and Chris Horsman returns to the front row following his RBS Six Nations exploits with Wales. Former French international Thomas Lombard is named among the replacements.

Brain said: "We are playing well and we have got to make sure we are keen to get going again after the enforced break. It is close at the bottom but all I'm concerned about is us. We know if we approach the game in the right way we are in with a real shout of winning it."

Bristol head coach Richard Hill has Alfie To'oala and Mark Regan at his disposal after the pair missed their side's clash with Bath. Roy Winters moves back into the second row to partner Gareth Llewellyn and Luke Arscott comes in for Josh Taumalolo.

Hill said: "Our game against Northampton was very tight and I suspect it'll be the same against Worcester.

"I know John Brain well and I imagine he'll have his forwards stoked up."

Warriors: Drahm; Havili, Rasmussen, Tucker, Delport; Brown, Powell; Morris, Fortey, Horsman, Gillies, Murphy, Horstmann, Sanderson, Hickey. Replacements: Windo, Lutui, Blaze, Quinnell, Run-ciman, Lombard, Best.

Bristol: Arscott; Robinson, Brew, Cox, Lemi; Gray, Perry; Hilton, Regan, Crompton, Llewellyn, Winters, To'oala, El Abd, Blowers. Replacements: Linklater, Clarke, Hohneck, Budgett, Nicholls, Strange, Lima.