WORCESTER Cavaliers field a strong side for their opening test tonight against Oxford University at Iffley Road (7.30pm).
Ben Howard is at full back, while Max Stelling and Ravai Fatiaki are the centre partnership for Cavaliers’ warmup match.
Former London Welsh skipper Carl Kirwan, who arrived at Warriors in the summer, starts at number eight, along with prop Ryan Bower and the experienced Dan Sanderson in the second row.
Warriors’ second team reached the Aviva A League final last season before losing 27-19 to a powerful Saracens side in the rain at Sixways.
Saracens blew away Worcester in the first 26 minutes, scoring three converted tries for a 21-0 lead.
Worcester put up a brave fight as Saracens had three players yellow-carded in the final watched by 4,141.
Cavaliers open their A League campaign against Sale Jets at Sixways on November 23.
Cavaliers: Howard; Adams, Stelling, Fatiaki, Nesbitt; Shillcock, Nott; Bower, Singleton, Milasinovich, Sanderson, Kitchener, Ripper-Smith, Xiourouppa, Kirwan. Replacements: Newman, Appiah, Morris, Fowles, Butler, Allsopp, Helme.
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