INFLUENTIAL skipper Pat Sanderson returns to the starting line-up as Worcester Warriors hunt a first Guinness Premiership win of the season against Bristol Rugby at Sixways Stadium on Saturday (3pm).

Sanderson was rested for the recent European Challenge Cup victory over Bucuresti but is back in the starting line-up for the crunch top-flight clash.

Back row star Kai Horstmann has recovered from an ankle injury and been passed fit to to play at Number 8 and is joined in the back row by Drew Hickey who moves to blindside flanker.

Tonga international Aleki Lutui is handed the hooker jersey and Darren Morris will play at loose head prop.

Versatile Fijian international Netani Talei is named amongst the replacements after recovering from a recent knee injury.

"We have enjoyed our last few games in Europe but we realise there is a big step up to the Guinness Premiership and we must raise our game to face Bristol," said Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock.

"Bristol are a fine side, it was a fantastic achievement that they finished in the top four last season and they dismantled Warriors when they came here on the opening day last year. It's going to be a tough challenge for us.

"We have got to perform better than we have all season, simple as that, because we haven't been good enough. But we felt we were the better team in our last game against Newcastle Falcons and are making forward progress.

"Our preparations have been first class and we believe that we can now start to transfer our European Challenge Cup form into the Guinness Premiership."

Warriors: Delport; Gear, Rasmussen, Tuitupou, Benjamin; Crichton, M Powell; Morris, Lutui, Taumoepeau, Rawlinson, Gillies, Hickey, Sanderson, Horstmann. Replacements: Black, Mullan, Bowley, Talei, R Powell, Brown, Pennell.

Bristol head coach Richard Hill keeps changes to a minimum.

Centre Neil Brew, however, is ruled out with a knee injury and All Black David Hill comes in at inside centre to partner Rob Higgitt.

The other change to the backs sees Scotland international scrum-half Graeme Beveridge replace Brian O'Riordan with the Irishman moving to the bench.

There is just the one change to the pack with Darren Crompton starting at tight-head in place of England Saxons call-up Jason Hobson.

Assistant Coach John Brain, the former Worcester director of rugby, is looking forward to his first return to Sixways and knows that Worcester will be desperate to win.

"Worcester have had a difficult start to the season and we'll be looking to compound that. They obviously envisaged that the foreign imports coming in around November time would make a difference and their performances have improved but they've yet to win although they should have won at Newcastle."

Bristol: L Arscott; T Arscott, Higgitt, Hill, Elliott; Strange, Beveridge; Clarke, Regan, Crompton; Winters, Hohneck; Salter, To'oala, Blowers. Replacements: Linklater, Hobson, Llewellyn, El Abd, O'Riordan, Taumalolo, Robinson.