Preview: Olympus Madrid v Worcester

Fit again duo Calum MacRae and Chris Pennell are both set to feature for Worcester against Madrid in the Amlin Challenge Cup on Saturday.

Fly-half George Crook is also handed a first start for the club.

Pennell, who has been out of action with a knee reconstruction since January, is named among the replacements while MacRae, who has been on the treatment table with a broken thumb sustained in pre-season, will start at full-back.

Alex Grove and Greg King are reunited in the centre, after joining forces on the opening day of the league season, while Crook will make his fourth appearance for Warriors in the number ten jersey.

Experienced hooker Chris Fortey will captain the side in the front row alongside props Adam Black and Jack Gilding.

A youthful and dynamic back row will see James Collins, Jake Abbott and Matt Cox combine while Netani Talei could make his 50th appearance for Warriors after being named on the bench.

Madrid will be happy to be at home after illness saw them travel to Connacht with only 19 players last week.

Olympus Madrid: 15 Cesar Sempere, 14 Juan Cano, 13 Benjamin Pardo, 12 Javier Canosa, 11 Matias Tudela, 10 Jeremias Palumbo, 9 Pablo Feijoo, 8 Ivan Criado, 7 Martin Acena, 6 Jesus Recuerda, 5 Pol Massoni, 4 Leandro Fernandez, 3 David Gurgenazde, 2 Chema Bohorquez, 1 Alejandro Onega Camacho.
Replacements: 16 Javier Arbelaitz, 17 Sebastian Hattori, 18 Victor Acevedo, 19 Matthew Cook, 20 Juan Gonzalez, 21 Sergi Guerrero, 22 Martin Heredia, 23 Manuel Mazo,

Worcester:15 Calum MacRae, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Greg King, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 George Crook, 9 Jonny Arr, 8 Matt Cox, 7 Jake Abbott, 6 James Collins, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 Will Bowley, 3 Jack Gilding, 2 Chris Fortey, 1 Adam Black
Replacements: 16 Jordan Page, 17 Aleki Lutui, 18 Callum Black, 19 Dave Lyons, 20 Netani Talei, 21 Ollie Frost, 22 Joe Carlisle, 23 Chris Pennell.

Date: Saturday, October 17
Venue: Ciuadad Universitaria, Madrid
Kick-off: 15.30 (14.30 BST)
Referee: Stefano Pennč (Italy)
Assistant referees: Stefano Roscini (Italy), Pio di Santo (Italy)