WORCESTER lock Dave Sims will miss the start of the league campaign with a foot injury.

The former Gloucester captain will be out for around two weeks after damaging a tendon during Saturday's friendly against Wasps.

It means he misses Saturday's Allied Dunbar Premiership Two opener at Manchester and the visit of Rugby Lions the following week.

But Chris Raymond is back in the fold after recovering from a bruised leg and will contest the vacant second row positions with Steve Lloyd and Richard Denhardt.

Sims played for just 21 minutes of Saturday's 31-16 defeat at home to Wasps. His injury looked innocuous at first but he had pulled a tendon pushing into the back of a ruck and was unable to put any weight on his foot.

The 29-year-old had undergone treatment but has been omitted from the Worcester squad for this weekend.

The Gold 'n' Blues will break with tradition by starting the season without a club captain.

Director of rugby Les Cusworth said the captaincy will be chosen each week from the 15 who selected to start the game therefors removing any potential selection problems if a captain is struggling for fitness or form.

The decision follows scrum-half Bruce Fenley's decision to stand down after three seasons in the post.

Fenley said he wanted to concentrate on his own game but, already this term, has found himself leading out the team in two of the club's pre-season friendlies including Saturday's 31-16 defeat against Wasps.

Flanker Nathan Carter was captain in Cornwall and he also led the pack against Wasps while Raymond deputised when Fenley was injured towards the end of last season.

"We've decided to have the captain picked from the team chosen each week," Cusworth said.

"It means we won't get involved in any difficult selection problems and it should lead to healthy competition for places throughout the team."

Prop forward Tony Windo has been selected for the Premiership All Stars team to play England at Anfield next week.

The 30-year-old, a summer signing from Gloucester, will be the only Allied Dunbar Premiership Division Two player taking part in the match on Tuesday, September 7.