John Brain is ready to make late calls on the fitness of kicking kings Shane Drahm and James Brown ahead of the trip to Gloucester – but Marcel Garvey is definitely ruled out a return to Kingsholm.
Director of Rugby Brain has revealed that Drahm and Brown are both doubts for the huge Guinness Premiership fixture.
He has vowed to give the duo time to prove their fitness before naming his team for the crunch clash.
However, Brain has revealed that flying wing Garvey will not be able to make a return to his former club after picking up an injury against Leicester Tigers.
“James Brown went off with a back spasm during Tigers, that has improved but he hasn’t trained yet and we won’t make a decision on him until Friday,” he said.
“Shane Drahm also picked up a hamstring strain in training, it is not torn but we have got to treat that.
“There is a chance that we could be without both of those players and that would be a blow for us – but neither are ruled out.
“Both have better than a 50-50 chance. We will take it day-by-day and not make any calls until late in the week.
“If they are ruled out Simon Whatling would be fit and available to come in and we also have ‘A’ team player Joey Carlisle.”
“Marcel Garvey has fractured his right eye socket and will be out for between four and six weeks,” he added. “It doesn’t require surgery but he will still be out for that period of time.”