WARRIORS captain Pat Sanderson says he is ahead of schedule in his race to return to fitness.

The flanker is refusing to set a date for his comeback from a back injury but director of rugby John Brain hopes to have him available for the visit of Premiership champions Wasps on March 10.

Sanderson said: "It may be, the way I'm going now, that I will be back sooner than I thought I was going to be back so I think it's best I just play it by ear.

"The injury is getting better slowly. I'm getting a fair amount done now so, from that point of view, I'm on track."

The 28-year-old was badly missed in Saturday's 48-33 humbling by Sale, as much for his tackling as his leadership skills, and his return would be a great boost to Warriors for the Premiership run-in. If Sanderson does figure against Wasps, he could come in to contention for England's final Six Nations match at home to Ireland.

But any slim hopes of his team-mate Chris Horsman returning before the end of the campaign have been extinguished, according to Brain.

"Chris Horsman won't play again this season," he said. "Pat, I think, will probably be fit for the Wasps game."

Meanwhile, Worcester were edged out by three points in their Guinness 'A' League fixture at Newcastle, despite a pair of tries from Chris Pennell.

The wing, who has been impressing for England Under 19s recently, was joined on the score-sheet by fly-half Sam Robinson.

But Worcester went down 26-23 as full-back Jamie Lennard weighed in with a conversion and a pair of penalties.

The result leaves Worcester rock bottom of the Northern Conference table with one win from six fixtures.

Their next 'A' match is a trip to Northampton on Monday, February 27, and the final clash is a home encounter with Leeds on Monday, March 20.

Worcester 'A': Lennard; Hylton, Maguire, Evans, Pennell; S Robinson, Runciman; Mullan, Clunis, Black, McDonald, Bowley, Wood, Collins, Everett. Replacements: Tideswell, Samra, Payne, Jones, Hallam, C Robinson, Morgan.