WINGER Sam Smith returns to Worcester Warriors' starting line-up for tomorrow's Greene King IPA Championship trip to Bedford Blues' Goldington Road (3pm).

The pacey back, who has scored 10 tries in 12 appearances this term, is one of three changes to the table-topping Warriors side that overpowered Rotherham Titans 49-10 at Sixways last weekend.

Tighthead prop Nick Schonert comes in for Joe Rees to join Niall Annett and Ryan Bower in the front row, while Darren O'Shea replaces Jonathan Thomas in the second row next to Mike Williams.

Thomas shifts to the back row in place of injured Argentina international Leonardo Senatore alongside Sam Betty and skipper GJ van Velze.

James Percival is back among the replacements and could be set for a first league appearance since November.

Full-back Chris Pennell, who has been under scrutiny by England following a head injury to Mike Brown, is not risked due to a hamstring niggle.

Warriors will be going for their 22nd consecutive win, which would break the club record for the second week running.

Director of rugby Dean Ryan said: "The first challenge was to get into the play-offs and we've done that now. The next challenge is to be as prepared as possible at the tail-end of the season to cope with the play-off situation.

"Goldington Road is a tough ground to go to. It's a tight and closed-in environment so we need to be aware of how to play.

"The weather is supposed to be lively so that will change things a bit tactically but it's another challenge for us to go to another difficult place.

"It's something we've done well in recent weeks. We've gone in, got the job done and been sharp at the beginning so we'll be challenging ourselves to do that again this week.”

Bedford will be looking to bounce straight back from a disappointing 17-3 defeat at Jersey last weekend but the reverse fixture at Sixways in November ended in a 42-12 win for the hosts.

Blues director of rugby Mike Rayer makes a handful of changes with Viliami Hakalo, Jake Sharp, Peter White, James Currie, Ben Gulliver and Justin Blanchet all returning to the side, while Hayden Thompson-Stringer takes a spot on the replacements bench.

Warriors: Howard; Smith, Stelling, Symons, Biggs; Mills, Arr; Bower, Annett, Schonert, Williams, O'Shea, Thomas, Betty, van Velze. Replacements: George, Rapava Ruskin, Daniels, Percival, Mulchrone, Mieres, Hammond.

Bedford: Kerr; Tapley, Staff, Hakalo, Pritchard; Sharp, White; Moss, Harris, Currie, Howard, Gulliver, Blanchet, Fenton-Wells, Vandermolen. Replacements: Clare, Parilli-Ocampo, Boulton, Tupai, Thompson-Stringer, Veenendaal, Jones.