LOOSEHEAD prop Marc Thomas will return to action in Warriors’ EPCR Challenge Cup match against Toulon at Sixways on Saturday (kick-off 5.30pm).
Thomas suffered a foot injury in the drawn Gallagher Premiership match against Newcastle Falcons seven weeks ago but has regained fitness and he comes into the starting XV for the visit of the three-times Heineken Champions Cup winners.
Thomas, who fills the gap left by Rory Sutherland who is suspended, is one of three changes to the side that faced Bath Rugby on Sunday.
Lock Matt Garvey comes into the second row in place of the injured Andrew Kitchener in the other change to the pack.
Oli Morris starts in the centre in a swap with Ashley Beck who has been named among the replacements. Both Morris and Garvey came off the bench at Bath.
Scotland tighthead prop Murray McCallum, a recent recruit from Glasgow Warriors, has also been named as a replacement. McCallum made his debut in the Premiership Rugby Cup win over Gloucester Rugby two weeks ago.
Lock Justin Clegg also returns to the matchday squad as a replacement having recovered from a shoulder injury along with Tonga international back-row forward Sione Vailanu.
Vailanu missed the Bath match after he returned a positive Test for COVID-19 but completed his period of isolation earlier this week.
Warriors | 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Oli Morris, 12 Francois Venter (CC), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Gareth Simpson, 1 Marc Thomas, 2 Niall Annett, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Matt Garvey, 5 Joe Batley, 6 Kyle Hatherell, 7 Ted Hill (CC), 8 Matt Kvesic.
Replacements | 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Justin Clegg, 20 Sione Vailanu, 21 Sam Lewis, 22 Will Chudley, 23 Ashley Beck.