SKIPPPER Gerrit-Jan van Velze is poised to make his first appearance for almost two months in Worcester Warriors’ European Challenge Cup clash at La Rochelle on Friday (6.30pm GMT).

The South African number eight has been sidelined since undergoing a knee operation after Warriors’ Aviva Premiership defeat against Saracens at Twickenham on November 28.

Warriors slipped to a desperately disappointing 22-15 home defeat last Saturday against Italian side Zebre at Sixways which ended their slim hopes of qualification for the knockout stages.

Head coach Carl Hogg says Warriors will throw a few more experienced faces into the fray for the Pool Four wooden spoon decider.

And Hogg hinted van Velze might get a run-out as Warriors look to secure their first victory since a 19-3 home win against La Rochelle in their group opener on November 14.

Hogg said: “We will go with one or two more experienced players.

"We view it with trying to balance the next 10 Premiership games but also re-integrating players so we springboard ourselves into that block of matches.

“We have a big challenge against La Rochelle but also with Exeter Chiefs around the corner and then London Irish.

“We are trying to get a balance across the group so we can reintegrate some players and allow opportunities for others.”

Warriors have lost their last nine matches in all competitions and will need to improve their discipline, which proved costly in the defeat to Zebre.

Worcester conceded 13 penalties in the defeat and Hogg felt some of them were “needless” and yielded yellow cards for Huw Taylor and Darren O’Shea.

“I think discipline, especially in that middle third of the pitch killed us and Zebre kicked for penalties and put us into corners off the back of our ill-discipline,” said Hogg.

“Discipline is an area we’ve looked at this week and also the ability to create and take chances.

“They (Zebre) didn’t really offer a huge amount of threat in attack and they had one opportunity and they took it - so they were clinical.”

Warriors have lost twice to both holders Gloucester and Zebre since their rain-swept victory against La Rochelle.

But Hogg says Worcester will aim to round off their European campaign on a high note.

“It seems a like a long time ago since La Rochelle at home where we had a very good performance and a very good victory in challenging and difficult conditions against a big forward pack,” said Hogg.

“We played pretty well that afternoon and we will be looking to replicate that in France.

“French teams load their performances at home and put a massive emphasis on winning at home so that will be a real challenge for this group.

“The first 20 minutes are critical for us and we have to box clever and be smart and put pressure on La Rochelle.

“They are the home side and all the pressure will be on them to come out and play and we need to make sure we play in the right areas of the field.”