CENTRE Wil Butler will captain Worcester Cavaliers against Northampton Wanderers in tonight’s Premiership Rugby Shield battle at Franklin’s Gardens (7.30pm).

The England Under-20s centre missed the first three months of the season with an elbow injury which he aggravated playing in the Premiership Rugby Sevens.

But he made his comeback as a replacement in the European Challenge Cup match in Pau nine days ago.

Butler will now make his first start of the season alongside South Africa international Wynand Olivier in a strong Cavaliers side.

Tom Howe, Dean Hammond, Jack Cosgrove, Isaac Miller, Darren Barry, James Scott and Matt Cox – who also played in Pau – will all start with Beck Cutting, Simon Kerrod and Michael Heaney on the bench.

There are five guest players in the Cavaliers squad.

Birmingham Moseley fly-half James Williams, who made his Warriors’ debut in the centre in last month’s Premiership Rugby Cup match at Saracens, Hartpury blindside Zac Ward and Oxford University blindside Sam Miller will all start.

London Scottish lock Matt Marley and Luctonians back-row forward Owien Harriott-Davies are named on the bench.

Cavaliers go into Monday’s match joint top of the Northern Conference with Newcastle Falcons having won three of their first four matches.

Worcester continue their Premiership Rugby Shield campaign on Sunday, December 23 when Leicester Tigers are the visitors to Sixways (kick-off 1.10pm).

Cavaliers: David; Howe, Olivier, Butler (C), Hammond; Williams (Moseley), Baldwin; Cosgrove, I Miller, Mudariki, Barry, Scott, Ward (Hartpury), S Miller (Oxford University), Cox.

Replacements: Cutting, Owen, Kerrod, Marley (London Scottish), Harriott-Davies (Luctonians), Heaney, Simpson, Hearle.