JOHN Brain has been given a major injury boost as all of his walking wounded get ready to train this week.

The Worcester director of rugby had concerns over a number of key players last week including Chris Garrard, Werner Swanepoel, Christian Evans and Neil Lyman.

The four, though, look set to declare themselves fit for Saturday's National One title showdown with Rotherham after resuming training.

"The injury worries have done extremely well for us," said Brain.

"We did have worries over Chris Garrard and Neil Lyman but they have responded very well to treatment and they will train this week, no problem.

"Christian is OK while Werner will also train. Last week was very useful in that respect. It has given the players extra time to get over the injuries and it's fair to say, apart from the usual suspects Ben Hinshelwood, Chris Pearson and Richard Bates, everyone is available for selection."

Worcester will wait until the last minute before naming their side but Brain admits he already has finalised the team and the players were made aware yesterday.

"By the time you get to this stage of the season, you know everything about your players," added Brain.

"Looking at the people we have available to us, it's very clear that we are in a much better state than we were when we travelled to Rotherham.

"We'll be better prepared this time around. We couldn't have been more disrupted last time we played them with the amount of injuries we suffered in the lead-up to the game. I think we are a better side than we were in November. We have grown."

And Brain is in no doubt that Worcester's second half collapse which led to the 38-13 defeat at Millmoor will drive the Sixways players on.

The visitors actually led 13-6 at half time in that game only to then buckle under the sheer physicality of Rotherham's forwards.

Brain, though, believes it is that memory that the players want to banish on Saturday.

"I think, even if we were out of the title race, they would be driven on by that memory," he added.

"They have got something to put right. We know we have to improve on the defensive display at Wakefield if we are to beat Rotherham but I also know that we can score tries against any opposition and they know that. The statistics back that up.

"When Worcester play Rotherham you are almost going into the unknown because you are stepping up a level.

"It will also be a first for many of the players, a big crowd, live television coverage so that is another unknown - how they react. We'll only know around 4.30pm," said Brain.