Richard Hill remains hopeful that centre Alex Crockett will win his fitness race to face Bedford Blues in the top-of-the-table RFU Championship clash on Saturday – but admits it looks increasingly likely that Jake Abbott faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Head Coach Hill will name his team to travel to Goldington Road on Friday and is confident that Crockett, who limped off against Bristol after scoring the opening try against his former club, will recover.
Abbott was also forced off against Bristol but faces a more uncertain future as Sixways medical staff await the latest scan results.
“Alex is probably 50-50 for the weekend,” said Hill. “He's not been ruled out yet, but 50-50 is pretty good this early in the week and hopefully the percentage will increase as the days go by.
“It was a twisted ankle and it's not swollen up too much, so I don't think it is too serious. With a bit of luck he'll be fit.
Hill added: “Jake has had his scan and we're still waiting for the results. The medical team are 90 per cent plus certain that it's an ACL injury, though, which would be a six-month absence.
“It's a great shame because he's a young man who was going to use this year to really develop his game.
“He'd made the choice to develop with us in the Championship rather than going to Dubai to play England Sevens.
“In the Premiership it is difficult for a young lad to break in and get regular rugby, but in our division, it could have been a great year for him and he'd started off so well. It's a great pity if it is an ACL and it has curtailed his development.
“But we've still got a back row of Kai Horstmann, Neil Best and Adam Balding with Pat Sanderson, James Collins and Matt Kvesic to come in, so we've got a lot of good players to come in and I'd be equally comfortable with any of those six playing.”