INFLUENTIAL scrum-half Matt Powell makes a welcome return for Worcester Warriors' crucial Guinness Premiership trip to London Irish on Sunday (3pm).

Director of rugby John Brain recalls Powell after an ankle injury in one of seven changes to his starting line-up at the Madejski Stadium in Reading.

Inside-centre Gary Trueman marks his comeback from a groin problem, while Lee Best replaces Aisea Havili on the right wing.

Veteran prop Tony Windo will play from the off at loosehead and Tongan hooker Al-eki Lutui gets his first Premiership start since New Year's Day.

Youngster Will Bowley fills the big boots of lock Craig Gillies who was banned for two weeks after pleading guil-ty to two charges of stamping in the 22-17 defeat at Bristol last Saturday.

Richard Blaze, destined to join Leicester in the summer, is also called up with Kai Horstmann and Drew Hickey switching positions in the back row.

Skipper Pat Sanderson aims to ensure Warriors remain in the top flight as he plays the 150th Premiership match of his career.

Brain said: "It is always tough to get an away win but Irish will be quite focused on the game. It will be their last match at home.

"They will want to put on a good show in front of their support and we have got a totally different agenda.

"We are trying to achieve something. You are better off thinking about how you actually do that than about what it will be like if you do achieve it.

"I'm confident we can perform well and If we perform well, we will be in with a real chance of winning the game.

"I think the players know that an opportunity will present itself tomorrow afternoon and we have got to be in the right frame of mind to take it.

"We have got to make sure we look after the ball and defend well. The more we look after the ball, the less time we will spend defending."

Warriors: Drahm; Best, Rasmussen, Trueman, Delport; Brown, Powell; Windo, Lutui, Horsman, Bowley, Blaze, Hickey, Sanderson, Horstmann. Replacements: Morris, C Fortey, Taumoepeau, Murphy, Quinnell, Runciman, Tucker.