LOOSEHEAD prop Lewis Holsey will make his first start for Warriors in Friday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm (kick-off 7.45pm).
The 21-year-old, who had a spell on loan at Hartpury in the Championship earlier this season, has made five appearances off the bench so far, the latest at Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Rugby Cup last Saturday.
With a number of players ruled out this weekend by illness, Holsey comes into the starting XV as one of three changes to the side that beat Exeter in Warriors’ last Premiership outing two weeks ago.
Will Chudley will start at scrum-half, taking the place of Willi Heinz who has returned to New Zealand since he started against Exeter two weeks ago.
Kyle Hatherell has recovered from the shoulder injury he sustained at Sale Sharks six weeks ago and comes into the back-row at blindside flanker.
The bench includes Academy lossehead prop Ben Murphy whose only senior appearance came as a replacement in the Premiership Rugby Cup victory over Gloucester at Sixways in December.
Caleb Montgomery, who has been recalled from a loan spell with Cornish Pirates, is set for his first Premiership appearance of the season having made his seasonal debut in the cup last week.
Gareth Simpson has recovered from illness and has been named among the replacements.
Ethan Waller returns to the matchday squad as replacement loosehead prop.
Warriors | 15 Noah Heward, 14 Alex Hearle, 13 Oli Morris, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Perry Humphreys, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Will Chudley, 1 Lewis Holsey, 2 Niall Annett, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Joe Batley, 5 Graham Kitchener, 6 Kyle Hatherell, 7 Ted Hill (C), 8 Sione Vailanu.
Replacements | 16 Isaac Miller, 17 Ben Murphy, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Caleb Montgomery, 20 Jack Forsythe, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Billy Searle, 23 Seb Atkinson.