PHIL Murphy is set to return for Worcester's vital European Challenge Cup match at Montpellier on Friday night.

The 6ft 7ins lock missed the meeting with Amatori Catania on Saturday after picking up a rib injury in Warriors' Premiership match against Northampton Saints.

But he trained with the team yesterday and is expected to be available for a match that Worcester need to win to guarantee their passage to the knock-out stages.

Uche Oduoza, the teenage wing who has made a big impression in this competition, is set to miss the game after straining his quad during the warm-up on Saturday.

Oduoza's absence presents the Warriors coaching staff with a headache. Aisea Havili and Mike Maguire are both ineligible for the competition as is full-back Jamie Lennard.

With Nicolas Le Roux and Thinus Delport both out injured, coaches John Brain and Anthony Eddy have only two recognised three-quarters available and will probably use Shane Drahm or James Brown as full-back.

Delport was due to have a scan yesterday but Brain is hopeful it is "not a serious knee injury."

One player who will be available for the trip to France is Dale Rasmussen. The Samoan centre looked in some discomfort as he came off in the Catania match but Brain confirmed he was only suffering from cramp.

The Sixways director of rugby has now accepted prop Chris Horsman is unlikely to figure again this season.

The Welsh international had surgery on his ankle at the end of last week and the signs are the road to recovery will be a long one.

Despite the comfortable win against Catania, Brain wants a better show from his team as they try to book their place in the quarter-finals.

"I think there were some good bits from Saturday but I think the players were generally disappointed with some of our execution," he said.

"There is a fair bit to be positive about but we've got to make sure we improve on Friday night."

Brain is not worried about having a day less to prepare. He said: "We had two six-day turn-arounds over Christmas. The players have got a good programme this week."