WORCESTER'S director of rugby John Brain believes that the openside spot in the team is exactly that - open.

The back row has been fiercely competitive since the start of the season and the arrival of players such as Richard Bates, Gavin Pfister and Mark Gabey at Sixways.

However, with established pros such as Christian Evans and Jim Jenner also playing out of their skins and young guns Neil Mason and Richard Nias gunning for a spot in the pack, players are busting a gut to be involved.

And with the blindside position and number eight being filled by Evans and Bates respectively in the last few weeks, Brain reckons the seven shirt is still up for grabs.

Pfister got the nod for today's National One clash at Plymouth but with Nias, Mason and Jenner snapping at his heels, Brain is in a coaches' dreamland with such ferocious competition for places.

"The openside position is probably the one in which we are still looking at the main candidates," he said. "Gavin Pfister has an opportunity today while Neil Mason had one against Moseley last weekend. Richard Nias has played there as well so there are a number of candidates for that position. Gavin has the shirt at the moment and I think he has something to prove to us.

"These are the selection headaches that you want as a coach. The squad is generally a lot more competitive than last season but I think the back row is a fiercely competitive area of the team.

"I think when you have that competition then it focuses the minds of the players to every minute of training sessions and then, when they get the opportunities, on the pitch in match situations.

"Players know they have to perform to keep the shirt but that is the way it should be."