TIM Collier looks set to miss Worcester's crucial trip to Newcastle.

The lock, who limped out of the Warriors' defeat against Saracens last month, will see a specialist again this week over his ankle injury and is not expected to make Sunday's Premiership clash at Kingston Park.

The news could not have come at a worse time for the Sixways club with forward Chris Horsman also ruled out of the Falcons clash because of a neck problem, while fellow prop Lee Fortey aggravated a shoulder injury during Worcester's weekend European Shield clash with Leeds.

It means Worcester are down to three fit props with Tony Windo, Steve Sparks and the returning Neil Lyman now taking up the battle.

With Newcastle's various injury problems, the fear is that Sunday's clash could see uncontested scrums and that would seriously weaken Worcester's bid for a vital victory.

"Everybody knows that the scrum is a big part of our game so that's not what we want to see at Newcastle," said head coach Andy Keast.

"Newcastle have got a speedy set of backs but teams that have given them a problem recently have targeted them up front.

"In this professional environment, we all have academy front row players that can sit on the bench so you would hope that there would be no need for uncontested scrums."

Meanwhile, Keast has hit back at claims that Worcester have unsettled existing players by announcing the signings of Shane Drahm and Andy Gomarsall. Rugby pundit Stuart Barnes questioned whether James Brown and Matt Powell would feel "hard done by" because of the signings after an impressive season. Keast, though, begs to differ.

"James Brown and Matt Powell knew about these signings before they were made and announced," said Keast.

"We've talked to them throughout because we are up front about it. They welcome the signings because they know the two players will make us stronger. James and Matt are in agreement with the signings, they want to move forward with us and they welcome competition for places.

"As for the figures bandied about with the signings -- I might as well choose any blackbird out of a tree. Just pluck one out of the air. It would be as accurate as some of these salaries mentioned."