CALUM MacRae returns from a broken thumb to start at full-back in Worcester Warriors’ Amlin Challenge Cup pool two tie with Olympus Rugby XV Madrid today (4.30pm local time), while long-term absentee Chris Pennell is on the bench.

Summer siging MacRae, a Scotland ‘A’ international, has been sidelined since suffering the injury on his debut against Ulster in pre-season and Pennell has recovered after rupturing a knee ligament against Bucuresti in January.

Fly-half Joe Carlisle, who threw a costly interception pass in the opening Challenge Cup defeat against Montpellier last week, has to make do with a replacements’ jersey as Mike Ruddock has opted to hand 21-year-old George Crook his first competitive start for the club at stand-off.

Alex Grove and Greg King are reunited in the centre, after joining forces on the opening day of the league season, while experienced hooker Chris Fortey will captain the side in the front row alongside props Adam Black and Jack Gilding.

A youthful and dynamic back row will see James Collins, Jake Abbott and Matt Cox combine, while Netani Talei could make his 50th appearance for Warriors after being named on the bench.

Former Edinburgh utility-back MacRae said: “I’ve been injured before and you have to make sure you do not dwell on it and remain positive — that’s what I’ve done.Obviously the Madrid game is a big one for the team — we want to do well in this competition and what happened against Montpellier has only increased that desire.

“There are a few players who have been given a chance to show what they can do. For those who have been stewing for an opportunity to impress, it is then up to us to prove our worth.

“The main focus has got to be on ourselves and not on Madrid. We need to rectify the issues from Montpellier.

“We are starting to build up to the Harlequins game at home — that will be in the back of the minds of the players selected in Spain, to step up and impress.”

Warriors backs and defence coach Billy McGinty added: “We have some injuries from last week, but everyone is looking forward to the trip to Madrid.

“We’ve seen parts of one of their games and they are a collaboration of a lot of Spanish teams.

“It is a good opportunity for us to go out there and play against a team we don’t know too much about. It is a must-win game for us — we were very disappointed by the Montpellier result. We had a game-plan, but didn’t follow it very well.

“We enjoy playing in the European Challenge Cup — it is something we want to win — and we are looking forward to the game.”

Warriors: MacRae; Gear, Grove, King, Benjamin; Crook, Arr; A Black, Fortey, Gilding, Bowley, Gillies, Collins, Abbott, Cox. Replacements: Lutui, Page, C Black, Lyons, Talei, Frost, Carlisle, Pennell.