Preview: Bristol v Worcester

With Bristol preparing to bid a temporary goodbye to the Memorial Stadium, coach Richard Hill gives several departing players a final run out for Saturday's clash with Worcester.

With Bristol preparing to bid a temporary goodbye to the Memorial Stadium, coach Richard Hill gives several departing players a final run out at the old ground for Saturday's clash with Worcester.

It's Bristol's final home Guinness Premiership fixture of the season and, with the Memorial Stadium set to undergo a massive redevelopment, some players will featuring there for the final time.

Sam Cox, Rob Higgitt, Dave Hilton and Jason Strange are all set to leave the club at the end of the season and all four are named in the starting line-up to face Worcester.

“The atmosphere is almost second to none at the Memorial Stadium – there's a really close link between the players and the supporters,” said Hill.

“There's no doubt that at difficult times over the past few years, the Memorial Stadium has been a huge factor in us winning matches. We've had some great occasions there.

“We still watch clips of certain matches such as the one against Gloucester last season where Jason Strange dropped the winning goal and the looks on the faces of the supporters and players alike are still fantastic to see.”

But there is still a game against Worcester to be played and Hill was quick to remind everyone that the Warriors still have plenty to play for.

“Worcester had a pretty poor start but improved massively when they finally got their best XV out on the field,” said Hill.

“They've got their confidence up, have had a good run of results and have an exciting European Challenge Cup against Bath to look forward to.

“They'll want to continue that run and will be confident of doing so against us and then against Newcastle in their final league game. They've an exciting three weeks ahead.

“But we lost quite badly at their place which was a low point for us so we'll be looking to turn that around.”

Meanwhile, rising stars Joe Carlisle and James Collins are both handed starts by Worcester.

Carlisle is awarded his first Guinness Premiership starting spot at fly-half, with Shane Drahm moving to the bench, as coach Mike Ruddock gives youth a chance to shine at the Memorial Stadium.

England Sevens star Collins replaces skipper Pat Sanderson in the back row and is joined by Tom Wood and Drew Hickey who is named captain for the day. Kai Horstmann misses out with a shoulder knock.

Chris Pennell comes in at fullback, Thinus Delport dropping to the bench, and Matt Mullan is named at hooker with Aleki Lutui (elbow) ruled out. Mullan will line up in the front row alongside Tony Windo will make his 100th Premiership appearance in the penultimate league clash of the campaign.

Dale Rasmussen (neck) is replaced by New Zealand international Rico Gear and Will Bowley is in for lock Greg Rawlinson who moves to the bench.

Wales international prop Chris Horsman and back row Netani Talei make welcome returns from injury among the replacements.

Form: Bristol Rugby have lost their last four matches in the Guinness Premiership including three successive home defeats at Memorial Stadium. European Challenge Cup finalists Worcester Warriors have lost back to back games in the Guinness Premiership. Worcester won 25-5 when the two teams met at Sixways on 26 January. The Warriors have won twice before at Memorial Stadium: 10-3 in National One in November 2003 and 26-23 in the Premiership in January 2006.

Bristol: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Lee Robinson, 13 Rob Higgitt, 12 Sam Cox, 11 David Lemi, 10 Jason Strange, 9 Shaun Perry (capt), 8 Dan Ward-Smith, 7 Iain Grieve, 6 Alfie To'oala, 5 Nathan Budgett, 4 Mariano Sambucetti, 3 Darren Crompton, 2 Mark Regan, 1 Dave Hilton.
Replacements: 16 Scott Linklater, 17 Peter Bracken, 18 Sean Hohneck, 19 Redford Pennycook, 20 Graeme Beveridge, 21 Ed Barnes, 22 Neil Brew.

Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Miles Benjamin, 13 Rico Gear, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Marcel Garvey, 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 Matt Powell, 8 Drew Hickey (c), 7 James Collins, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 Will Bowley, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Matt Mullan, 1 Tony Windo.
Replacements: 16 Chris Horsman, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Greg Rawlinson, 19 Netani Talei, 20 Ryan Powell, 21 Shane Drahm, 22 Thinus Delport.

Date: Saturday, 3 May
Kick-off: 15:00 (14:00 GMT)
Venue: Memorial Stadium
Referee: Ashley Rowden
Touch judges: Paul Dickens, Peter Huckle
Assessor: Ed Morrison
Television match official: Matt Peters