WORCESTER are facing a number of selection headaches before their European Shield final.

The Warriors, who will travel to Oxford for the finale against Auch on May 21, will definitely be without Andre Van Niekerk and Drew Hickey.

Van Niekerk has returned to South Africa, while Hickey has gone back to Australia to get married.

Worcester also have numerous worries, particularly in the front row. They are also reluctant to play skipper Pat Sanderson just days before he jets off to Canada with England.

"It's becoming increasingly difficult," admitted head coach Andy Keast.

"Andre has gone home because of commitments so he is definitely out, while Drew is getting married so that is another non-starter.

"Dale Rasmussen has returned home because of his hamstring injury so it's fair to say that our options are limited."

Keast and director of rugby John Brain have spoken to the organisers, ERC, to ask about those options but have so far hit a brick wall.

Worcester's game at Saracens on Friday night was reduced to uncontested scrums because of the Warriors' front-row problems, but with Neil Lyman now not registered in their 32-man squad, the Euro clash could start with an uncontested farce.

"That could be the situation," added Keast. "We don't have a fit tight-head at the club and Steve Sparks has been struggling with injury for a long time now.

"We have Tony Windo and Dylan Hartley fit and that's about it, but whether ERC are going to allow the game to start with uncontested scrums is a decision for them.

"We have already explained to the organisers but they say we can't bring anyone else in. It will be very interesting to see how we start the game.

"We also don't feel it would be appropriate to play Pat Sanderson just days before he goes off with the England squad."