WORCESTER Warriors are considering throwing World Cup star Loki Crichton straight into their first XV against Leeds at Headingley Carnegie on Friday.

However, the skilful footballer, primarily a fly-half or full-back, may be called upon to play inside-centre in place of the injured Dom Feau'nati.

Hamstring injury victim Feau'nati will be sidelined for the match but Dale Rasmussen, who limped off against Saracens on Saturday, should be fit to play.

Mark Tucker deputised for Feau'nati against Sarries and did not put a foot wrong.

However, head coach Clive Griffiths was quick to point out Crichton has played inside-centre in the past.

Griffiths said: "Loki has played quite a bit at 12 in his career so he can be a second five-eighth, as they call it.

"The modern game is now crying out for ball-players at 10 and 12 - if you have got just the 10 running the show against good defences, you're going to struggle a bit. With an extra five-eighth you have a lot more strings to your bow.

"But we are open-minded as to where Loki might play. He would certainly be a ball-playing 12 more than a crash-ball centre."

Tackle-machine Rasmussen hobbled off in the 21-16 defeat to Saracens but director of rugby Mike Ruddock is confident the Samoan will be ready to face Leeds.

The Sixways chief said: "Dale was man-of-the-match on Saturday but, with the big hits he put in, he cramped up a bit towards the end and had to come off. His tackling was immense.

"I guess when you play the way he does you'll be a bit battered towards the end of games but he'll be fine for Friday.

"Dom is definitely out - it will have only been a week since he did the injury and he won't quite be ready.

"Other than the longer-term injured guys, we are pretty much at full-strength. We have also been bolstered by some players coming back from the World Cup.

"I haven't picked the side yet but I would have thought Aleki Lutui would figure in the 22, as would Chris Horsman and Loki.

"That is positive news for us and they have already brought a lot of enthusiasm into the training environment from their experiences at the World Cup."