FEARS over the injured Jamie Shillcock have been eased after lead rugby consultant Steve Diamond confirmed it wasn't as serious as initially thought.

The full-back was helped off by medics during the half-time break last weekend between Worcester and Bristol Bears, a game Warriors went on to win 19-14.

Shillcock went down after stepping off his right ankle and the pictures showed his face in some pain, which caused concern.

But Diamond has said that whilst he might be out for a week or so, it is not as bad as had been feared.

That will come as a relief for Worcester as Shillcock has become one of the first names on the teamsheet and his first-half display against Bristol showed exactly that.

He provided the pin-point grubber kick through for Duhan van der Merwe's early try and also produced the try-saving tackle to prevent Bristol's Fitz Harding from going over.

Captain Ted Hill missed the win over Bristol due to a sore back but has trained this week and could return for the visit of reigning Premiership champions Harlequins on Friday night.

Flanker Kyle Hatherell will not be available, however, as he continues to struggle with a shoulder problem.

Scrum-half Willi Heinz is nearing a return after almost four months out but next week is looking a more likely scenario. 

Warriors are having to deal with their fair share of injuries at the minute with a host of first-team players out. 

Centres Francois Venter, Oli Morris, Ollie Lawrence, Owen Williams and Will Butler are currently all sidelined as are back-row forwards Hatherell, Tom Dodd and Sam Lewis.

Number eight and man of the match against Bristol, Sione Vailanu, also limped off last weekend but the club are hopeful he will be on hand to tackle Quins. 

"Injuries don’t worry me. They are a short-term problem," said Diamond.

"Every club has to put up with them. You always have knocks and bruises to deal with and you just have to get on with it.

"If someone misses out because of injury there is another young lad coming off the rank.

"You would like your best players to be on the pitch but that rarely happens.

"What I can say is that anyone that steps into the team at the moment is saying: pick me."