Horstmann joined Worcester from Harlequins in 2005

Worcester Warriors number eight Kai Horstmann is likely to miss the home match against Sale with a rib injury.

But Warriors director of rugby Mike Ruddock said early signs were that the injury was not serious.

"Thankfully it is not a recurrence of the injury he had towards the end of last season although it is in the same sort of area," he said.

"It's a rib cartilage rather than a rib itself so he'll probably miss this game but hopefully should be back soon."

Netani Talei replaced Horstmann during the 23-3 defeat at Wasps and is likely to come into the starting line up for Saturday's home game.

Other than that enforced change, Ruddock plans to stick with the squad.

"We are hoping to pick pretty much from the same panel as last week," he told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"With a bit of luck Joe Carlisle will be back in contention to figure or be there or thereabouts in terms of making the bench.

"Shaun Ruwers should be back in contention at prop while Callum Black is back in the frame as he was last week so he has a sniff of trying to creep on to the bench as well."

And Ruddock dispelled concerns over an injury to Sam Tuitupou who was replaced 13 minutes from time during the defeat at Wasps.

"I just withdrew him because he has had surgery and hasn't had a huge amount of game time," he said.

"He wasn't doing anything wrong but I just figured he was going to be blowing a bit as he hadn't had the pre-season game time other players had.

"It was sensible at that stage to take him off and freshen him up while I could also then give Rico [Gear] his chance and I thought Rico did really well when he came on."

There will be full commentary on Worcester Warriors versus Sale Sharks on Saturday, 26 September as part of Sport on Saturday on BBC Hereford and Worcester.

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