Quins v Worcester: Teams
Ugo Monye and Danny Care return for Harlequins as they host struggling Worcester at the Twickenham Stoop.
Last Updated: 01/04/09 7:01pm
Harlequins host Worcester in a rearranged Guinness Premiership fixture that has massive implications at both ends of the table.
While Quins know a win will push them into the top four, their opponents need the points to ease their fears of suffering the dreaded drop.
The Warriors were beaten by bottom-club Bristol in front of the Sky cameras on Sunday and now sit just nine points clear of their relegation rivals.
The odds are certainly against Mike Ruddock's side being successful on their travels, as Quins are unbeaten in their last nine games at the Twickenham Stoop.
Added boost
The home side also have the added boost of welcoming back England duo Ugo Monye and Danny Care to their starting XV.
Scrum-half Care will have Chris Malone alongside him in the number 10 shirt, while Jordan Turner-Hall and Gonzalo Tiesi resume their centre partnership.
In the pack, Mike Ross returns to the front row to team up again with Ceri Jones and Tani Fuga, whilst in the second row Ollie Kohn comes in to play alongside Jim Evans.
Worcester make the trip to the capital with a side that contains five players making their full senior debuts - Michael Penn, Greg King, Jack Gilding, Shaun Ruwers and David Lyons are all in the starting line-up for the first time.
Warriors also have loan signing Ross Davies on the replacements bench with the prop having arrived from Sale Sharks for the month of April.
Ruddock admits that he had little option but to rotate his squad considering the prospect of three league games in the space of six days.
Situation
"The rationale underpinning selection is to enable us to negotiate three games in six days and that obviously means that a number of changes have to be made for this midweek game," he said.
"Midweek rugby is not an ideal situation in the Guinness Premiership at any time, but particularly at this moment of time when we are scrapping for every point we can get. However, the postponement from earlier this season has created this difficulty.
"What it does to is provide an opportunity for a number of young players to get the chance to 'put their hands up' and show that they have the ability to break through into the first team on a more regular basis.
"Last year youngsters like Miles Benjamin, Tom Wood, Matt Mullan, Chris Pennell, Joe Carlisle and Jonny Arr became established respected figures in the senior squad after making their league debuts and we are hoping that from this team a number of others are able to achieve a similar status."
Harlequins:15 Mike Brown, 14 Tom Williams, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Chris Malone, 9 Danny Care, 8 Tom Guest, 7 Will Skinner (capt), 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 Jim Evans, 4 Ollie Kohn, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Tani Fuga, 1 Ceri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Gary Botha, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 George Robson, 19 Nick Easter, 20 Andy Gomarsall, 21 Waisea Luveniyali, 22 David Strettle.
Worcester: 15 Loki Crichton, 14 Michael Penn, 13 Hal Luscombe, 12 Greg King, 11 Charlie Fellows, 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 Matt Powell (c), 8 Tom Wood, 7 Jake Abbott, 6 James Collins, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 David Lyons, 3 Shaun Ruwers, 2 Chris Fortey, 1 Jack Gilding.
Replacements: 16 Ross Davies, 17 Jordan Page, 18 Graham Kitchener, 19 Rob Wood, 20 Jonny Arr, 21 George Crook, 22 Tom Wheatcroft.