LOCK Greg Rawlinson will skipper Worcester Warriors as they travel to Romania to face Bucuresti Oaks in the European Challenge Cup on Sunday (2.30pm BST).

Former New Zealand international Rawlinson returns in the second row, in place of Graham Kitchener, as director of rugby Mike Ruddock makes five changes to the side that won the opening game in the pool stages last weekend.

Australian full-back Chris Latham is rested to recover from a bruised hand and so Samoan international Loki Crichton is handed the number 15 jersey.

Miles Benjamin returns on the wing after missing the clash with Petrarca Rugby due to illness and Ryan Powell is named at scrum-half.

Prop Matt Mullan and Tongan hooker Aleki Lutui complete the changes as they play in the front row while academy product Jordan Page is among the replacements with Chris Fortey (ribs) ruled out.

Warriors return to Romania for a second successive season in the competition and Ruddock is hoping for better conditions this season after last year’s game was hit by awful weather.

"I've looked at the forecast over there," he said.

"It looks good, sunny, no wind and a good temperature.

"Hopefully that will help us to play good rugby, move it around and get outside the physical contest they will thrive on."

Warriors: Crichton; Gear, Grove, Tuitupou (v/c), Benjamin; M Jones, R Powell; Mullan, Lutui, Taumoepeau, Rawlinson (c), Gillies, Wood, Cox, Talei. Reps: Black, Page, Kitchener, Collins, M Powell, Carlisle, Fellows.