CHARLIE Mulchrone captains a much-changed Worcester Warriors side for tomorrow's visit of Pontypridd in the British and Irish Cup quarter-final at Sixways (3pm).

Head coach Carl Hogg makes 13 changes to the side who blitzed Moseley 50-10 in the Greene King IPA Championship last weekend with just Andy Symons and Ryan Bower keeping their starting berths.

Ignacio Mieres is given the nod at stand-off with scrum-half Mulchrone set to make his first start since late November.

A youthful and pacey backline sees Ben Howard, James Stephenson and Dean Hammond occupy the back three, while Ravai Fatiaki joins Symons in the centre.

Bower is accompanied by Niall Annett and Joe Rees in the front row, while the experienced Dan Sanderson and James Percival start in the second row.

Mat Gilbert is recalled to the back row alongside Richard de Carpentier and 18-year-old Huw Taylor as Warriors hunt an 18th straight victory in all competitions.

Worcester head coach Carl Hogg, who has stepped up to oversee the game, said: "We'll use the group who have done really well throughout as they've got outstanding endeavour and showed great character to come out on top of every contest so far.

"It's only fair they get an opportunity to play in a quarter-final. We've got off to great starts in our last two games, where we've put teams to the sword, and we will need to do the same again tomorrow.”

For the first ever encounter between the two clubs, Principality Premiership leaders Ponty seek to emulate their feat of reaching last season's semi-finals.

While Worcester were clear winners of Pool Three with six wins, Ponty battled out of Pool One as runners-up behind Bristol.

The Welsh side are without centre Gary Williams (ankle strain), scrum-half Joel Raikes (knee) and number eight Owen Sheppeard (knee).

Returning to club duties from the senior Cardiff Blues squad are full-back Geraint Walsh, outside-half Simon Humberstone, scrum-half Lewis Jones and lock Lou Reed.

Humberstone will make his 100th appearance in Ponty colours at Sixways.

Warriors: Howard; Stephenson, Fatiaki, Symons, Hammond; Mieres, Mulchrone; Bower, Annett, Rees, Percival, Sanderson, Taylor, Gilbert, de Carpentier. Replacements: Sowrey, Fainga'anuku, Daniels, Kerry, Bruzulier, Stevens, Humphreys.

Pontypridd: Walsh; L I Williams, Dacey, Lockyer, Jenkins; Humberstone, Jones; Howe, Dowden, Palmer, Reed, Davies, Thomas, Shellard, Godfrey. Replacements: T Williams, L K Williams, O'Connor, Belcher, Locke, Phillips, Lewis.