TEVITA Taumoepeau is poised to return to the Worcester Warriors starting line-up for their do-or-die Sixways showdown with Saracens on Saturday.

It appears increasingly likely Welsh international prop Chris Horsman will sit the game out after being hampered by a neck injury and Taumoepeau looks set to step into his shoes.

The Tongan powerhouse has been overlooked since Horsman returned from the Six Nations last month but has been backed by director of rugby John Brain to do a job against the Saracens pack.

"Chris is a doubt for the weekend's game," said Brain. "He has still not got full range of movement in his neck and he has not been able to train this week so that makes him a doubt.

"We will leave it until late in the day but we are very confident in what Tevita can do.

"We have won three games with Tevita playing at tight-head this season. Should Chris not be fit, it's not a major blow for us."

Another injury worry for Worcester concerns centre Gary Trueman, who has been laid low by a virus.

"His spleen has increased in size which possibly makes him a risk in a contact situation," said Brain.

"That will have to have returned to it's normal size for him to take any part in this game. He has trained but not done any contact work."

With Worcester just a point ahead of Northampton at the bottom of the table, a win against Saracens will effectively ensure the club don't drop into National Division One.

When the two side's last met, Warriors edged a pulsating encounter at Vicarage Road - but Brain admits the context of the match is incomparable.

"We know we can win against them but this is obviously a completely different game," he said.

"It's the climax to the season. They are chasing a result and so are we.

"They are in good form and they are probably one of the best sides in the league at the moment. I would certainly rate their attack as probably the best.

"We are really focussed on attacking them and there are some areas in defence we need to address.

"It's pretty much a cup tie. It comes down who can execute well under pressure."