ENGLAND international Chris Pennell returns to the Worcester Warriors side for Sunday's trip to Nottingham in the Greene King IPA Championship (3pm).

The full-back missed last weekend's 25-5 win over Doncaster Knights following his man-of-the-match performance for England Saxons against Ireland Wolfhounds.

Pennell is among five changes to the side for the leaders' first visit to the Lady Bay Sports Ground with Ryan Mills, Charlie Mulchrone, Niall Annett and Joe Rees returning to the starting line-up.

Max Stelling and Andy Symons occupy the centre, while Mills replaces Ryan Lamb at stand-off and Mulchrone is given the nod at scrum-half.

Ben Howard shifts to the wing with Tom Biggs and Pennell completing the back three.

Annett and Rees replace Agustin Creevy and the injured Nick Schonert in the front row next to Ryan Bower, while the versatile Mike Williams and Jonathan Thomas sit in the second row.

Leonardo Senatore, Sam Betty and skipper GJ van Velze keep their places in the back row.

Director of rugby Dean Ryan said: "I've not actually been to Nottingham's new ground but we've got to be in the right place mentally to make sure we take the same approach we did at Moseley.

"Sometimes playing at different kinds of grounds can catch you out in terms of your mental approach.

"If we reference Yorkshire, that was a time when we didn't get it right so we've been working on that specifically this week.

"The core of the squad is there or thereabouts now but it's still about moving some people around, getting some fresh ones in and seeing more of what they can do.”

Nottingham are determined to give the leaders a test of their promotion credentials despite losing three times already to Worcester this season.

The Green and Whites slipped to a 12-10 defeat at Jersey last weekend and will look to regain the momentum built on the back of five consecutive victories.

Head coach Martin Haag hands a full debut to centre Nick Carpenter, who has arrived on a dual registration with Bristol, and Ed Styles reverts to the bench.

In the pack, Dan Montagu and Paul Grant have picked up knocks and are replaced by Rupert Cooper and Matt Everard respectively.

Tom Calladine moves to number eight and Brent Wilson switches flank in a reshuffled back row.

The other change sees Michael Holford come into the side in place of Conor Carey.

Sunday's match is dedicated to the White Ribbon Campaign, which promotes men working to end violence against women.

Warriors: Pennell; Howard, Stelling, Symons, Biggs; Mills, Mulchrone; Bower, Annett, Rees, Williams, Thomas, Senatore, Betty, van Velze. Replacements: Creevy, Rapava Ruskin, Daniels, O'Shea, Arr, Mieres, Fatiaki.

Nottingham: Robinson; Hough, Carpenter, Pohe, Iongi; Maisey, Romans; Ma'afu, Malton, Holford, Freeman, Cooper, Wilson, Everard, Calladine. Replacements: Vickers, Carey, Brownlie, Laxton, Smit, Lynn, Styles.