WORCESTER Rugby Club will today step up the search for a new lock after Tom Bowman's contract was terminated.

The shock move came after the Australian failed to meet Worcester's rigorous fitness standards and coaches John Brain and Andy Keast are now set to re-enter the transfer market as they count down to the Premiership kick-off.

The 28-year-old was a late arrival following an extended season with Italian side Viadana but concerns over his general fitness levels have led to an abrupt exit.

"The club have terminated Tom Bowman's contract on fitness grounds and he is no longer with us," said Brain, Worcester's director of rugby. "We will be looking for a replacement for Tom and we're surveying our options at the moment."

Bowman's departure opens up a slot in the budget for a quality replacement and gives Worcester the opportunity to bring in an overseas player.

Meanwhile, Worcester will check on the fitness of skipper Ben Hinshelwood before finalising their side to face Leinster at Clontarf tomorrow (7.30pm). The centre aggravated an ankle knock this week in training although he is pencilled in to start.

Worcester will be looking to see as many players as possible in the clash although Thinus Delport (knee), Mark Gabey (knee), Neil Lyman (sternum) and Gary Trueman (toe) are all out, while Lee Fortey and Brad MacLeod-Henderson will miss the match due to family commitments.

Worcester go into the game on the back of a 12-10 victory over Cardiff Blues in their opening pre-season clash and head coach Keast is hoping for more of the same tomorrow.

"There are technical areas where we have to work at and we've been addressing that this week," said Keast. "However, against Cardiff, they pulled together really well as a group and won the game.

"The main thing to take out of the Leinster game will be the performance," added Brain.

Starting line-up: Roke; Hylton, Hinshelwood (Hayes), Rasmussen, Gollings; Brown, Powell; Windo, Daly, Horsman, Murphy, Gillies, Greef, Sanderson, Hickey.