Plymouth Albion v Worcester: Warriors chasing ninth straight win

Sam Betty was a regular for Worcester as they were relegated from the Premiership last season

Worcester Warriors have recalled Cornish flanker Sam Betty as they head to Plymouth Albion on Saturday looking for a ninth successive victory.

A fifth straight Championship win last Saturday lifted Dean Ryan's side to within two points of leaders Bristol.

And after three straight wins in the British & Irish Cup, Worcester will expect to keep that run going against bottom club Albion.

Ryan puts his side's success down to competition for places at Sixways.

"Competition is driving people to come in and make their mark," Ryan told BBC Hereford & Worcester. "We've got guys like Chris Pennell and Agustin Creevy to return over the coming weeks so there's another wave of people to add to the mix.

"We've got to try and get ourselves over the hurdle of Plymouth but, at the same time, we have to keep ourselves moving up a notch every week."

Betty, who will be one of eight changes made by Ryan at Brickfields, will be making a return to his native south west, having signed for the Warriors from Cornish Pirates in July 2011.

Ryan Bower and Niall Annett are back in the front row, James Percival returns at lock and there are four changes in the backs as Ryan, still without injured England full-back Pennell, brings in centres Alex Grove and Andy Symons, stand-off Ignacio Mieres and scrum-half Jonny Arr.

Worcester: Howard; Smith, Grove, Symons, Biggs; Mieres, Arr; Bower, Annett, Daniels, Percival, O'Shea, Williams, Betty, van Velze.

Replacements: Sowrey, Fainga'anuku, Rees, Cox, Bruzulier, Lamb, Fatiaki.