Worcester Warriors have won three of their last four games in all competitions, the defeat being at home to in-form Leicester on 27 December.

The teams are enjoying contrasting form as the Warriors have scored just nine tries in their 12 matches so far and Gloucester Rugby are undefeated in their last four encounters.

Gloucester's only away win since last February in Aviva Premiership Rugby was 24-19 at Exeter Chiefs on 5 November.

The Warriors have not beaten Gloucester since April 2009 at Kingsholm, whilst Gloucester have gained three wins and three losses on previous visits to Sixways in the Premiership.

Having successfully come through his return in the A League on Monday, second row Alex Brown has been named to start in this weekend's match.

Brown's return after injury is the only change to the starting line up that drew last weekend at Saracens as he makes his first start for the first team since mid September.

Peter Buxton moves to the bench to accommodate Brown's return while Jonny May is also back in the matchday 23 having recovered from his bout of flu.

If Buxton takes the field, it will be his 250th competitive appearance for the club, an impressive feat from a true Gloucester stalwart.

A sell out crowd at Worcester awaits two teams who are in reasonable form with Gloucester unbeaten in their last four games and Worcester having won three of their last four including a valuable Aviva Premiership victory on the road last weekend at London Wasps.

Gloucester won the first encounter between these two sides earlier this season, by 29 points to 8 at Kingsholm, but Sixways has proved to be a tough venue in the past for the Cherry and Whites, a fact not lost upon Head Coach Bryan Redpath.

"Saturday's going to be a massive, massive game. They've got nothing to lose now they've a ten point cushion over Newcastle and it's a derby match.

"We've not gone up there and played particularly well in the past so we have to be hugely focussed as this game is very important to us before we go into the Heineken Cup and LV= Cup for a few weeks.

"We're well aware that they have a very good defensive record. They're very dogged and we're going to have to be very physical to break them down.

"We have to show them the utmost respect because they won't just lie down. It is a derby game and it'll be very tough."

Meanwhile Worcester Warriors have named Prop Tevita Taumoepeau and flanker Jake Abbott to start this weekend.

Taumoepeau is named in the front row alongside Matt Mullan and Aleki Lutui while Abbott is part of a new-look back row as he combines with Sam Betty and Matt Kvesic.

Chris Pennell will captain the team from full back while Richard Muagututia could make his Aviva Premiership debut after being named among the replacements.

"The big challenge, after really battling for a win at Wasps, is to really back it up with a home victory. We have got to really start to establish this as a difficult place for other teams to come to," said Head Coach Richard Hill.

"Gloucester have been superb and I watched them play at home at Kingsholm against Wasps and that was some of the best rugby I have seen - it was absolutely astounding.

"Wasps lost six tries to one but I don't think any team in the Aviva Premiership would have lived with Gloucester on that day. They were on fire and have hit from at a good time.

"We have five crucial home games to come, including the derby, and we have to make sure we take advantage of the fantastic support we have to turn those fixtures into wins.

"We want to be looking up the table as opposed to over our shoulder and bringing our supporters a winning brand of rugby. It will be fantastic to see another sell-out crowd at Sixways and we want to perform for them."

The Bookies have given home team Worcester Warriors a two points start for this match as Gloucester are on something of a winning run.

Date : Saturday 7th January
Match : Worcester Warriors v Gloucester Rugby
Venue : Sixways
Kick Off : 2.45pm
Live on: Sky Sports
Referee: Martin Fox (75th Premiership game)

Teams

Worcester Warriors

15 Chris Pennell (c) , 14 Marcel Garvey , 13 Alex Grove , 12 Dale Rasmussen , 11 Miles Benjamin , 10 Joe Carlisle , 9 Jonny Arr ,1 Matt Mullan , 2 Aleki Lutui , 3 Tevita Taumoepeau , 4 James Percival , 5 Chris Jones , 6 Sam Betty , 7 Jake Abbott , 8 Matt Kvesic

Replacements , 16 Bruce Douglas , 17 Ed Shervington , 18 Oliver Tomaszczyk , 19 Craig Gillies , 20 Richard Muagututia , 21 Shaun Perry , 22 Andy Goode , 23 Ravai Fatiaki

Gloucester Rugby

Olly Morgan; Charlie Sharples, Henry Trinder, Mike Tindall, James Simpson-Daniel; Freddie Burns, Rory Lawson; Nick Wood, Scott Lawson, Rupert Harden; Jim Hamilton, Alex Brown; Alasdair Strokosch, Akapusi Qera, Luke Narraway (capt)

Replacements:Matias Cortese, Dan Murphy, Dario Chistolini, Peter Buxton, Matt Cox, Dave Lewis, Ryan Mills, Jonny May