WORCESTER Warriors will be without captain GJ van Velze for their much-anticipated Aviva Premiership clash against Leicester Tigers at Sixways on Saturday (3pm).

The influential South African recovered from a knee injury to face Saracens at Twickenham last weekend, but he appears to have suffered another set-back as the back rower has made way for Matt Cox.

Phil Dowson claims the number eight jersey and the captaincy as Worcester aim to bounce back from their 48-18 mauling at the hands of leaders Sarries.

The only other change to the starting line-up sees tighthead prop Joe Rees replace the injured Nick Schonert, who needed 40 stitches to his face after suffering a nasty cut.

Na'ama Leleimalefaga keeps his place in the front row along with Niall Annett, while Donncha O'Callaghan and Darren Barry will link-up again at lock.

The backline remains unchanged with the potent back three of Chris Pennell, Bryce Heem and Cooper Vuna, while Ryan Mills and Wynand Olivier start in the centre.

Jonny Arr continues at scrum-half after having signed a new contract with the club earlier this week, while Tom Heathcote will look to pull the strings from the number ten berth.

Academy prop Gareth Milasinovich and flanker Marco Mama are named on the bench.

Meanwhile, Leicester will welcome back Vereniki Goneva and Owen Williams after the pair missed the club's wins over Benetton Treviso in Europe.

Captain Ed Slater leads the team, which includes former Worcester duo Graham Kitchener, who will make his first start of the season, and Mike Williams.

The other changes to the Tigers' forward pack sees Matias Aguero start in the front row for the first time and Jordan Crane return at number eight.

WARRIORS: Pennell; Heem, Olivier, Mills, Vuna; Heathcote, Arr; Leleimalefaga, Annett, Rees, O'Callaghan, Barry, Cox, Betty, Dowson (C) Replacements: Bregvadze, Rapava Ruskin, Milasinovich, Cavubati, Mama, Mulchrone, Lamb, Howard.

LEICESTER: Veainu; Thompstone, Betham, Bai, Goneva; Williams, Harrison; Aguero, Bateman, Cole, Slater (c), Kitchener, Williams, Croft, Crane Replacements: Youngs, Ayerza, Balmain, Barrow, McCaffrey, Kitto, Bell, Smith.