JOHN Brain will give his walking wounded until Friday to prove their fitness ahead of Worcester's title showdown at Rotherham.

The Sixways director of rugby saw five players leave the field during Worcester's 36-0 win over Wakefield on Saturday because of injury and is in constant contact with medical staff over their progress.

Werner Swanepoel looks to have shaken off an elbow problem but there still remains a big question mark over first team stars Richard Bates, Gavin Pfister and Richard Nias.

James Ogilvie-Bull is also struggling with a twisted knee.

Bates injured his shoulder in the Wakefield clash while Pfister suffered a badly broken nose. Nias was stretchered off and will today undergo a CT scan on his neck after a heavy knock.

Worcester are hopeful that Nias will come through without any problems, but Bates and Pfister could struggle to make Saturday's National One clash between the top two sides. Brain, though, will give the players as much time as possible as the Millmoor countdown continues.

"If we have to give them until Friday then that's what we will do," said Brain. "We are assessing the players on a daily basis and working with medical staff to get the real picture.

"Bates' shoulder is improving every day while we are hoping that Nias will be OK. We are concerned with Pfister's injury that we might have a problem because, obviously with a broken nose, there is a good chance of it bleeding if he takes a knock. In his position, he will take a knock and what we don't want is players coming off for blood."

The match is a massive one for both clubs as they scramble for one Premiership promotion slot and, understandably, every Sixways player is desperate to play a part. However, Brain believes that his injured players will be honest enough to hold their hands up if they are not ready by Friday.

"All three are honest guys and they understand it is an important game. They will not let the team down by declaring themselves fit if they're not.

"There is no point being negative about it. In an ideal world it is something you could do without but we have said all along that we have a big squad here. It may well be that that squad is tested on Saturday."