ENGLAND prop Matt Mullan will make his long-awaited playing comeback as Worcester Warriors travel north to face Scottish side Currie in the British & Irish Cup tomorrow night (7.30pm).

Mullan will make his first appearance of the season after recovering from a shoulder injury as Worcester hunt a crucial victory at Malleny Park that will keep the club’s cup hopes alive.

Rob Higgitt, Oriol Ripol, Willie Walker and Joe Carlisle are all named in an attacking back line, while Adam Balding will captain the side and form part of a powerful pack eager to produce in the Scottish capital.

Highly-rated forward Rob Wood - brother of new England cap and former Warrior Tom - is among those named on the replacements bench.

Andrew Stanley, head of skill development and academy manager at Warriors, said: “The game in Currie is a very important one for us and one we must win for our hopes for making the knockout stages.

“Currie have a big set of forwards and a back line that is committed to attack. It is going to be a difficult place to go and we can expect a stern test. It’s imperative we do a professional job in Scotland and get the right result “It is fantastic news for everyone connected with Warriors to see Matt back in a Worcester shirt after a number of months out injured. We are all looking forward to seeing him in action and he has been very strong in training.

“Rob will also play his first game for the club after a lengthy lay-off after knee problems and will be keen to make an impact off the replacements bench.”

Warriors: Walker; Penn, Higgitt, King, Ripol; Carlisle, Frost; Mullan, Shervington, Tomaszczyk, Dacres, Bowley, Freeman, Collins, Balding. Replacements: Radburn, C Black, Hill, Clutterbuck, Wood, Silver, Whybrow.

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