WORCESTER Warriors have suffered a double injury blow.

Tim Collier and Lee Fortey will miss the rest of the Premiership campaign after being told they both need operations.

Lock Collier faces surgery on his ankle to remove some floating bone, while prop Fortey needs to go under the knife after aggravating a shoulder injury against Leeds Tykes on Saturday.

The double whammy comes at the worst time possible for Worcester with prop Chris Horsman also out until the end of the month because of a neck injury.

And with Worcester still needing points to ensure their top level survival, the injuries are testing the Warriors' resources ahead of their Sunday tester at Newcastle.

"To lose Tim and Lee at this point of the season is a huge blow for us," said head coach Andy Keast.

"Tim gives so much to the pack in terms of physicality and Lee has been doing a good job for us in recent weeks. It means that we are down to three fit props.

"We're back to where we were at the beginning of the season. We had problems with the forwards at the start of the campaign with very few fit props while, more recently, we've had injuries to our wings.

"It's not an easy time of the season for anybody and the injuries don't help. However, it's an opportunity for players to come in and put their hands up. We've had a fairly settled side lately but now it gives others a chance to show us their quality at Newcastle."

Worcester will finalise their team for the Kingston Park clash today and have to decide whether to plump for Phil Murphy to partner Craig Gillies at lock or continue with Brad MacLeod-Henderson in the second row. Tighthead Neil Lyman looks set to play his first Premiership game since the October defeat at Leeds.

Lyman, who has struggled all season with a sternum injury, will once again link up with fellow veteran Tony Windo in the front row.