Richard Hill has revealed that returning Warriors stars Chris Pennell and Matt Mullan have stepped up their rehabilitation this week – but admitted no-one has a divine right to get in the team and both will need to prove they are worth a place.
Pennell (ankle) and Mullan (shoulder) have both missed the RFU Championship season to date with long-term injuries.
However, both have stepped up their recoveries this week by running plays used by Worcester’s rivals Cornish Pirates ahead of the league game this weekend.
Hill said: “Chris and Matt have both done some contact work with us. We had an ‘A’ team side who were playing all of the Pirates’ moves against our first team on Wednesday. Effectively, Chris played full back and Matt played prop for Pirates.
“It was the first time they have both been involved. We were 70 or 80 percent contact and they both came through fine. It was the first time they had done that and it was good to see them out there. It is another step forward.
“Like everyone else, they will have to earn their spurs,” he added. “Like Alex Grove, Matt and Chris will have to play well in other matches to get into that first team. Nobody gets in by divine right – no matter who they are.
“As our captain, we all hope Chris comes back and hits good form, gets his confidence back as quickly as possible.
“He can then take over the reins, if he is happy. However, he may well just want to concentrate on his playing first and we will chat about that.”