Ruddock shuffles Warriors squad

Mike Ruddock knows what his team have to do to get a home game

Worcester make six changes for the European Challenge Cup visit of Petrarca Padova, with Matt Powell and Joe Carlisle the half-back pairing.

Director of rugby Mike Ruddock is keen to get game-time for his players ahead of the return to Premiership action.

As with Bucuresti, Ruddock has warned against underestimating the Italians.

"They have players with Premiership experience in their ranks - Nicky Little has played in World Cup, Ludovic Mercier is a quality player," he said.

Charlie Fellows is on the wing in place of Chris Pennell while Will Bowley, Aleki Lutui and Matt Cox are in the pack.

Tongan international Tevita Taumoepeau will start his 100th game for the club.

Warriors will have to score eight tries, and win the game, if they are to have a home quarter-final.

French side Brive pulled off a 29-13 bonus point victory over Overmach Parma in Pool Four, and Warriors now need to better their points and try tally.

Ex-Gloucester man Ludovic Mercier is now starring for Petrarca

Ruddock said: "It will be tough against this crowd, they have beaten Bourgoin home and away, which we failed to do.

"We moved them around superbly when we played them in Italy, and we used the space and our strike runners.

"We have to wait and see if the weather allows us to do the same this weekend.

"We scored six tries last week (against Bucuresti) when but we didn't play well, we lacked cohesion at times and composure and made a lot of errors.

"I gave the players the benefit of doubt after three weeks out, but we will park all the permutations and simply play better."

Worcester; Latham, Gear, Luscombe, Rasmussen, Fellows, Carlile, M. Powell; Mullen, Lutui, Taumoepeau, Rawlinson, Bowley, Cox, Sanderson, Hortsmann;

Replacements: Morris, Fortey, Kitchener, Gillies, Talei, R. Powell, Crichton

Petraca Padova: Bartholomeusz, Acuna, Rosa, Bertetti, Spragg, Mercier, Leonardi: Rizzo, Giovanchelli, Paoletti, Cavalieri, Fletcher, Ansell, Galatro, Padr�.

Replacements: Matteralia, Chistolini, Bezzati, Pastormerlo, Leaega, Little, Stoltz.

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Meanwhile, Warriors' away game against Harlequins will now be played on Wednesday, 1 April after it was postponed on 10 January.

It will mean Worcester will be playing three games in six days.

They go to Bristol on Sunday, 29 March and entertain Saracens on Saturday, 4 April.

There will be full commentary of Worcester's tie with Petrarca on BBC Hereford & Worcester 104 FM and at bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester