WORCESTER Warriors wing Bryce Heem returns from a mid-season break in his native New Zealand for Sunday’s Premiership Rugby Cup derby day match against Wasps at Sixways (3pm).

Heem scored two tries, including the winner in the 19th minute of added time, in the dramatic 21-19 victory over Bath in Warriors’ last Gallagher Premiership match four weeks ago.

He missed the last-gasp European Challenge Cup victories over Ospreys and Stade Francais which secured Warriors a home quarter-final against Harlequins next month but returned to Sixways this week.

Heem is back in action along with Scotland fly-half Duncan Weir and South African internationals Francois Venter and Francois Hougaard who also last played against Bath.

Venter resumes his centre partnership with Ryan Mills, who played at fly-half against Ospreys and Stade Francais, with Weir regaining the number 10 jersey.

Tighthead prop Nick Schonert returns from injury and Anton Bresler starts in the second row with Michael Fatialofa ruled out by a shoulder injury.

International commitments at senior or under-20s level rule out centres Ben Te’o and Ollie Lawrence, winger Josh Adams, hooker Joe Taufete’e, lock James Scott and blindside flanker Ted Hill.

Wasps lock James Gaskell will make his 100th appearance for the club and scrum-half Joe Simpson has recovered from an ankle injury to feature for the first time since November, replacing Dan Robson who is away on Six Nations duty with England.

Ashley Johnson captains the side from number six and is joined in the back row by Ben Morris and Nizaam Carr who replace the international trio of Brad Shields, Nathan Hughes (both England) and Thomas Young (Wales).

Charlie Matthews makes up the second row pairing with Gaskell as they replace Joe Launchbury (England) and Will Rowlands.

Ben Harris packs down with Tom Cruse and Jake Cooper-Woolley in the front row.

Behind the scrum, Lima Sopoaga forms the half-back pairing with Simpson while Gaby Lovobalavu and Juan de Jongh compose an experienced centre partnership.

Marcus Watson replaces Elliot Daly (England) to join Rob Miller and Josh Bassett in the back three.

Among the replacements, Tommy Taylor returns after a spell out with concussion along with Tom West and Joe Atkinson with all three in line to make their first appearances since November.

Wasps forwards coach Andy Titterrell said: “Worcester have had a couple of decent results in this competition and they recently pushed Saracens so they’ll be a difficult side to face.

“Both teams will be wanting to build a little bit of momentum going back into the league so it's going to be a fiercely-contested match from every angle.

“That's what we will prepare for, that's what I expect and I am sure that is what we will get.

“Players have to step up when the international players aren't here. Those players waiting in the wings have to step up and make it difficult for Dai (Young) to select those guys when they come back.”

Warriors: Pennell; Heem, Venter, Mills, Hammond; Weir, Hougaard; Black, Singleton, Schonert, Bresler, Phillips, Mama, Lewis, van Velze. Replacements: Annett, Waller, Milasinovich, Barry, Cox, Heaney, Butler, David.

Wasps: Miller; Watson, de Jongh, Lovobalavu, Bassett; Sopoaga, Simpson; Harris, Cruse, Cooper-Woolley, Matthews, Gaskell, Johnson, Morris, Carr. Replacements: Taylor, West, Stuart, Myall, Atkinson, Hampson, Searle, Neal.