FRANCOIS Hougaard and Ryan Mills are both set for a return to action tomorrow as Worcester Warriors take on Northampton Saints at Sixways in the Aviva Premiership (1pm).

Springbok Hougaard is set for his first appearance of the season after missing the start of the campaign through international duty and injury and links up with Jono Lance in the half-back combination.

Mills is back in the side after a quad injury sustained in September against Gloucester and partners Jackson Willison in the centres.

Chris Pennell is restored to the starting line-up at full-back and joins a back three which includes Bryce Heem and Josh Adams.

In the pack, Ethan Waller starts in the front row against his old club next to Jack Singleton and Nick Schonert with the latter making his first Premiership appearance since picking up an ankle injury against Wasps in early September.

Skipper Donncha O’Callaghan and Will Spencer form the second row while GJ van Velze makes his comeback from concussion in the back row alongside Alafoti Faosiliva and Sam Lewis.

Matti Williams is among the replacements as he recovers from a fractured hand while Gareth Milasinovich, Michael Dowsett, Sam Olver and Dean Hammond are all rewarded with a place in the squad after impressing in the recent cup competitions.

Warriors: Pennell; Heem, Willison, Mills, Adams; Lance, Hougaard; Waller, Singleton, Schonert, O’Callaghan, Spencer, Faosiliva, Lewis, van Velze. Replacements: Williams, Bower, Milasinovich, Phillips, Scotland-Williamson, Dowsett, Olver, Hammond.

Saints: Mallinder; Pisi, Horne, Burrell, Collins; Myler, Reinach; A Waller, Haywood, Brookes, Paterson, Dickinson, Wood, Gibson, Harrison. Replacements: Marshall, van Wyk, Ford-Robinson, Moon, Eadie, Groom, Francis, Foden.