ANDY Gomarsall will finally become a Worcester player today.

The England scrum-half is expected to sign on at Sixways after contract terms were agreed over his three-year deal.

The Gloucester scrum-half, rated as one of the best passers in Europe, will link up with former Kingsholm coaches John Brain and Andy Keast at Worcester after finding himself frozen out by Nigel Melville in recent weeks.

The 30-year-old, who has been capped 23 times for his country, fell out with Melville after contract talks stalled and was then dropped for Gloucester's recent game at London Irish.

However, he sees Worcester as the ideal opportunity to re-ignite his England career after finding himself behind Harry Ellis and Matt Dawson in the pecking order under new boss Andy Robinson.

Gomarsall will, though, have to shift the consistent figure of Matt Powell from the Sixways number nine jersey first.

Powell has enjoyed a fine season in the top flight and has fought off the double challenge of Clive Stuart-Smith and Neil Cole to become the established scrum-half.

It now looks likely that Stuart-Smith will be heading for the Sixways exit after Gomarsall's arrival with Brain and Keast looking to manage the Worcester wage bill.

Newcastle have been linked with the former England under-21 captain and Gloucester could yet make a move to bring him back to Kingsholm.

Saracens are also in the market for a nine, although Stuart-Smith still has one year remaining on his Worcester deal and the 21-year-old could yet fight for his Sixways future.

Gomarsall is one of the most respected players in the Premiership.

The former Bedford nine joined the Kingsholm club when Philippe Saint-Andre was the director of rugby and has now established himself as one of the best in the Premiership.

After a fine 2003-04 season, the Durham-born player went on England's summer tour and started the final two games against New Zealand and Australia.

The move represents a massive coup for Worcester and sends out a clear signal of intent to the rest of the Premiership.

The Warriors this week swooped for Northampton's fly-half Shane Drahm and the duo look set to form an exciting half-back pairing at Sixways next season.