For several months the Worcester Warriors players have given the impression that they play with big hearts and indestructible bodies.

Unfortunately for them the hearts are still willing but in the cases of Andre van Niekerk and Dale Rasmussen the bodies are not.

The Sixways side yesterday ruled out both players for at least six weeks - the team's first major injuries of 2005 - and the prognosis on van Niekerk could be even worse.

Director of rugby, John Brain, revealed that they will find out at the end of the week whether the South African requires reconstructive surgery on the dislocated shoulder he sustained playing against Northampton Saints last Saturday.

The 28-year-old was taken off ten minutes from the end of the Powergen Cup loss after clashing with Ben Cohen and if he does need surgical attention it could be his last appearance in a Warriors shirt for five or six months.

Brain added that they have already made steps to finding a replacement for van Niekerk since they have just one senior hooker, Chris Fortey, in the first team squad and two back-ups, Iyran Clunis and Alan Keylock, in the academy.

"Andre is a big loss for us," said Brain. "He has been our starting hooker for 12 months and has been an important player.

"We have already made steps to find a replacement. I doubt whether we will have one before Saturday but there is a distinct possibility that we will have one by the following week."

In the mean time Fortey will start at Leicester Tigers at the weekend, with Clunis likely to come in on the bench as he did at Sixways four days ago, and will be an automatic first choice selection.

Brain believes it is the chance the former Gloucester front-rower will be keen to take: "He can use this opportunity to reinstate himself as a Premiership quality hooker.

"Ironically he would have started against Northampton if he had not been injured himself but know he can show what he can do. It is also a chance for Iyran Clunis and Alan Keylock to step up."

Thankfully Brain has more options at centre, where Rasmussen's grade three medial ligament tear, will create a space for between six and eight weeks.

The Samoan has seen a specialist, who decided not to operate, and could be replaced by several players including Ben Hinshelwood, Thomas Lombard, Gary Trueman or Mark Tucker.

Given the fact that he has played his best rugby in the No 13 shirt, Hinshelwood would be a direct swap and could be replaced on the wing by Thinus Delport.

Lombard and Trueman have played most of their Worcester careers at inside centre, while Tucker has yet to establish himself in the team since his summer move from Franklin's Gardens.

Meanwhile Coventry have denied that Ben Gulliver is on his way to London Wasps after the powerful second row was linked with a move to the Premiership champions.

Gulliver has been Coventry's leading forward for the past two seasons but rumours of a change of club emerged after last weekend's demoralising 29-7 loss at Pertemps Bees.

"There has been no formal approach," said head coach Mike Umaga. "As far as we are concerned Ben Gulliver is a Coventry player and if Wasps want to change that they will have to go through the chairman.

"He is one of our best players and is an integral part of our team, we would be foolish to let him go," Umaga said.