Big boost for Saints as England ace Ludlam starts at Sixways

Ludlam will line up in the seven shirt after England opted not to pick him for their game against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday.

Courtney Lawes is the only Saints player selected by Eddie Jones for the Six Nations showdown.

That means Ludlam can line up alongside Tom Wood and Teimana Harrison in the back row at Sixways on Friday.

Alex Coles and Lewis Bean continue their partnership in the second row, with Api Ratuniyarawa serving the final game of his four-week suspension.

David Ribbans and Alex Moon remain sidelined due to injury.

Mike Haywood returns at hooker after being rested last week in the only other change to the pack that started against Saracens.

James Grayson has recovered from concussion and will start at fly-half in place of Dan Biggar, who is with Wales.

Rory Hutchinson will start at outside centre as he is not needed by Scotland this weekend.

Andy Symons starts at 12, while Tom Collins returns on the wing.

Jamie Gibson (ankle), Ribbans (ankle), Piers Francis (concussion), Ratuniyarawa (suspension), Ollie Sleightholme (hamstring), Moon (knee), Ehren Painter (calf), Alex Waller (achilles), and Matt Proctor (chest) are on the lengthy list of absentees.

For Worcester, former Saints prop Ethan Waller starts at loosehead, while another ex-Northampton forward, GJ van Velze, is on the bench.

Brothers Graham and Andrew Kitchener will start together for the first time in a Gallagher Premiership match.

Sam Lewis starts on the openside flank as Marco Mama suffered a foot injury against Leicester and he has been ruled out for around five weeks.

There are two changes in the backs with former England international Chris Pennell recalled at full-back and Jono Lance at fly-half in place of Duncan Weir, who has been named in Scotland’s squad for their last two Six Nations matches.

Former Scotland Under-20s back-row forward Tom Dodd is in line to make his Premiership debut having started in three European Challenge Cup matches this season.

Worcester Warriors: Pennell; Humpreys, Lawrence, Mills, David; Lance, Hougaard; Waller, Moulds (c), Schonert; A Kitchener, G Kitchener; Hill, Lewis, du Preez.

Replacements: Annett, Owen, Palframan, van Velze, Dodd, Heaney, Shillcock, van Breda.

Saints: Mallinder; Collins, Hutchinson, Symons, Naiyaravoro; Grayson, Reinach; van Wyk, Haywood, Hill; Coles, Bean; Wood, Ludlam, Harrison (c).

Replacements: Matavesi, B Franks, O Franks, Glynn, Tonks, Taylor, Dingwall, Tuala.