NEIL Mason will be staying on at Coventry despite Leon Greeff's injury.
The 22-year-old flanker, who moved to the National One club earlier this month in order to get much-needed game-time, was suddenly thrust up the pecking order after Greeff's injury.
Greeff dislocated his knee during Worcester Warriors' defeat to Leicester Tigers last Saturday and a subsequent operation will now rule the Zimbabwean out for the rest of the season.
An option for the Sixways management team may have been to bring back Mason but head coach Andy Keast believes the young gun will benefit more from his Coventry stay.
"We are well covered in the back row so we won't be recalling Neil," said Keast. "We have Brad MacLeod-Henderson, Mark Gabey and Siaosi Vaili so we have cover in that position.
"The thinking with Neil is that he's a young player with a lot of potential and this move will give him games at a good level. At present, Neil has a shoulder injury so there's no decision to be made."
Meanwhile, Northampton Saints' head coach Alan Solomons is fully aware that today's Zurich Premiership clash with Worcester is a massive game for both sides.
"The game presents us with an opportunity to move forward again," he said.
"While we all appreciate the importance of securing a win in this game, Worcester Warriors will certainly be no pushover. There are no easy games in the Zurich Premiership and today will certainly be no different.
"Having regard to both teams' position on the log, they will be going flat out for the vital league points."
Northampton have lost their last seven league games, while Worcester arrive at Franklin's Gardens as the bottom side following Harlequins' recent revival. The two are just five points apart, however, and victory for Worcester would leave Solomons' side in deep trouble.
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