WORCESTER Warriors’ number eight Matt Kvesic will become the latest member to join the 100 club when he runs out for Worcester at league leaders Leicester Tigers this weekend in the Gallagher Premiership clash at the Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium.

Kvesic will become only the 32nd Warriors player in the professional era to reach the landmark of 100 appearances for the club and will join his current team-mates Niall Annett, Graham Kitchener, Sam Lewis and Ethan Waller who have also reached the century mark in the past 11 months.

The 29-year-old has reached three figures in two spells with Warriors either side of stints with Gloucester Rugby and Exeter Chiefs.

"Personally, it will be a special day," said the new centurion himself.

"It’s probably the longest time someone has taken to get to 100 games at any club, it’s been nine years!

"I took my time. It’s nice to have come back to where I feel is home.

"I have an emotional connection with this club and I feel I owe them the performances.

"It's going to be a big challenge to go to Leicester but one we are all looking forward to and hopefully we can get a positive result."

Kvesic will start in the back row in a side that has four changes to the team that were beaten last weekend at home to Northampton Saints.

Jamie Shillcock returns at full-back having recovered from a hip injury with Billy Searle switching to fly-half in place of Fin Smith who took a knock to the head last week.

Alex Hearle and Ethan Waller are recalled on the left wing and at loosehead prop respectively with Duhan van der Merwe and Rory Sutherland on Calcutta Cup duty with Scotland at Murrayfield.

Justin Clegg will partner Joe Batley in the second row to replace Andrew Kitchener, who also took a head knock last week.

Isaac Miller, Kai Owen, Tom Dodd, Tom Howe and Harri Doel all come in to the matchday squad as replacements.

Hosts Leicester sit top of the pile in the Premiership but have lost their last two games to Wasps and last weekend to Sale Sharks.

Worcester have not won an away game in the league since September 2020.

Warriors | 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Gareth Simpson, 1 Ethan Waller, 2 Niall Annett, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Joe Batley, 5 Justin Clegg, 6 Kyle Hatherell, 7 Ted Hill (C), 8 Matt Kvesic.

Replacements | 16 Isaac Miller, 17 Kai Owen, 18 Jay Tyack, 19 Tom Dodd, 20 Sione Vailanu, 21 Will Chudley, 22 Tom Howe, 23 Harri Doel.