WERNER Swanepoel will be available for Worcester's title showdown at Rotherham after being handed a two-week ban by the Rugby Football Union.

A disciplinary panel last night found Swanepoel guilty of an off-the-ball incident at London Welsh earlier this month when he received a red card in the National One clash.

However, they imposed just a 14-day suspension on the Sixways skipper which will run out after Saturday's home clash with Moseley.

It means that Swanepoel will be able to play in Worcester's tough trip to Plymouth on November 2 and, vitally, their visit to league champions Rotherham on November 23.

After Swanepoel's sending off, at Old Deer Park, there were initial fears that he could face a four to six-week ban, threatening his involvement at Millmoor. However, after the hearing in Bristol, Swanepoel was understandably relieved. "I had a fair trial and I'm happy that it's just two weeks," he said.

"The panel took my past disciplinary record into account and I think that is common sense. I've never been sent off before in rugby and it is disappointing that it is on my record now. However, I'm delighted that after Saturday, I'll be able to focus on rugby again."

Worcester's director of rugby John Brain was also a happy man after travelling with Swanepoel and coach Andy Keast to back his captain at the hearing.

"We accept the decision and the two-week suspension," said Brain. "I think the way in which we argued our case cast enough doubt about the original sending off and the panel recognised that in the sentence.

"We disputed the sending off because we did not believe he did what he was alleged to have done. He was sent off solely on the word of the touch judge and I think the evidence we accumulated cast a lot of doubt on the decision.

"We were looking at a possible four to six week suspension so we are happy that it is only two. He is an important player for us."

Meanwhile, Worcester have given 20-year-old flanker Neil Mason the chance to star against his old club on Saturday.

The former Moseley youngster comes face to face with his former club in the openside back row position after impressing last weekend at Bracknell in the Powergen Cup.

"Neil continues to impress us and even though he is young, he is competing well for a place in fiercely competitive back row unit," added Brain. "We felt Moseley was the right opportunity to see him at seven."

Prop Neil Lyman makes his first National One start of the season in the front row after 60 minutes of action at Bracknell.

Worcester: Roke; Ezulike, Officer, Hinshelwood, Garrard; Chalmers, O'Reilly; Windo, Hall, Lyman, Gabey, Morgan, Evans, N Mason, Jenner. Reps: Higgins, Trueman, Richardson, Olver, Pearson, Zaltzman, Bates.