RICHARD Hill could be forced into a back-row reshuffle for Worcester Warriors’ Friday night crunch Aviva Premiership clash with Wasps at Sixways (8pm).

Jake Abbott picked up a nasty facial injury in the gut-wrenching late loss to Gloucester, so is likely to miss out, while Sam Betty is also doubtful after suffering a ‘partial concussion’ contesting the game’s kick-off.

Betty was guilty of conceding a string of first-half penalties at Kingsholm before being yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle, so head coach Hill may well be tempted to recall Neil Best regardless of the former Cornish Pirates player’s injury.

Best, who was dropped for the Gloucester trip following a costly yellow card against his former club Northampton Saints, is in line to get the number six shirt, with Blair Cowan continuing at number eight in the on-going absence of Semisi Taulava with Richard de Carpentier providing cover from the bench.

Full-back Errie Claassens was at a disciplinary hearing last night following his red card at Gloucester but, regardless of the outcome, is struggling with a knee injury, so Chris Pennell is likely to revert to the 15 jersey with Josh Drauniniu starting on the right wing.

Hill also admitted he plans to recall Jon Clarke at inside-centre in place of Kingsholm try-scorer Josh Matavesi. He added: “We need to get a big win in front of our own supporters on Friday night and, far from being down, the players are galvanised and angry about what has happened.

“They know they have to play better to get the right result, but there’s a really tight bond in the group and there will be some angry men going out there.”