No Worcester Warriors injury crisis, says Hill

Hill's Warriors have won their first three Championship play-off games

Worcester head coach Richard Hill is confident that his side can cope with injuries as the Championship play-offs begin to take their toll of his squad.

Hill was already running short of back row forwards after long-term injuries to Pat Sanderson and Jake Abbott.

And the problem was exacerbated when James Collins was carried off in Friday night's 25-19 win at Nottingham.

"At this stage of the season the knocks that we have received are only going to be one or two weeks, "says Hill.

"We may have to do without certain players for a time.

"But we have got to be able to rely on other individuals, " he told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

Hill does have the luxury of returning England Under-20 internationals Andy Short and Matt Kvesic, who looks likely to start the return game against Nottingham at Sixways on Saturday.

Matt Kvesic is a top quality player and was very close to playing at Nottingham,

Worcester coach Richard Hill

"Matt Kvesic is a top quality player and was very close to playing at Nottingham," added Hill. "There is a huge amount of talent in our squad that did not play in that game.

"If James Collins is struggling then we will just slot Matt in.

"Chris Pennell and Neil Best both took knocks, as did Tevita Taumoepeau, so we will have to look at them again on Monday.

"We will monitor Chris Pennell and, if he cannot play next week, it will be Tom Arscott or Willie Walker who we turn to.

"One of those two will almost certainly come in if Chris does not make it."

Scrum-half Andy Williams is due to make his comeback as Worcester Warriors visit Leicester Tigers this Monday (28 March 1930 BST).

Williams has been out of action since injuring his wrist in January, but is named among the replacements for the trip to Welford Road.

Warriors A: Arscott; Penn, Short, Higgitt, Ripol; Walker, Frost; C Black, Shervington, Tomaszczyk; Dacres, Bowley; Clutterbuck, Rodley, Freeman.
Replacements: Radburn, McCarthy, Hill, Parker, Leach, Williams, Hayter, Whybrow.