Former England scrum-half Willi Heinz will make his first appearance for Warriors in five months in Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match against London Irish at the Brentford Community Stadium (kick-off 3.00pm).

Heinz arrived at Sixways from Gloucester Rugby during the summer and started the season well before suffering a groin injury in October.

He has now regained fitness and comes straight into the side as one of eight changes to the team that faced Harlequins last week.

Heinz will form a new half-back partnership with Billy Searle with Duhan van der Merwe back on the left wing having scored for Scotland against France in last weekend's Six Nations clash at Murrayfield.

Former Wales international Ashley Beck has recovered from illness and forms a new centre combination with rookie Seb Atkinson, who scored a try on his first Premiership start against Harlequins.

There are two changes in the front row, where hooker Isaac Miller will make his first Premiership start of the season and Ethan Waller returns at loosehead prop.

Justin Clegg and Andrew Kitchener, who both came off the bench last week, start in the second row.

Flanker Jack Forsythe is in line to make his Premiership debut off the bench. Forsythe played in the Premiership Rugby Cup win over Gloucester in December and has gained valuable senior experience playing for Luctonians in National Two North on a dual registration this season.

Tighthead prop Jack Owlett returns to the squad for the first time in five months as a replacement having recovered from an ankle injury.

Former England back-row Matt Kvesic, who has recovered from illness, and hooker Beck Cutting also return to the matchday squad as replacements.

Warriors | 15 Noah Heward, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Seb Atkinson, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Willi Heinz, 1 Ethan Waller, 2 Isaac Miller, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Justin Clegg, 5 Andrew Kitchener, 6 Joe Batley, 7 Ted Hill (C), 8 Sione Vailanu.

Replacements | 16 Beck Cutting, 17 Murray McCallum, 18 Jack Owlett, 19 Jack Forsythe, 20 Matt Kvesic, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Alex Hearle.