WERNER Swanepoel has handed Worcester Rugby Club a massive boost by returning to full training.

The Sixways skipper, who has been out of action for a month following knee and Achilles injuries, began training yesterday and looks set to play against Henley on Saturday.

Director of rugby John Brain confirmed that the former Springbok international has finally put his injury nightmare behind him and is backing the scrum-half to light up Sixways again.

"Werner played the final third of last season with an Achilles injury and all the start of this season he was still feeling it," said Brain.

"The fact that he is now free from pain and fit again is a massive boost for the club. It's an exciting prospect for the supporters because they probably haven't seen the best of him for a while now.

"It will be nice for Werner to be able to just go out on to the field and concentrate on his rugby rather than worrying about injuries. He's a big influence for us on and off the field and it's great to have him back."

Worcester are the closest they have been this season to a clean bill of health with a number of key players returning to training.

Christian Evans is back following his elbow injury, while Richard Bates, fresh from a bench place in Saturday's Powergen Cup outing, should also make the squad.

Ben Hinshelwood is potentially only a week away from returning from Scotland's World Cup squad and should figure against Plymouth next weekend.

The only doubts for Saturday surround full-back Duncan Roke, Chris Hall and Ben Daly. Roke is rated at 50-50 to play against his former club because of a knee injury picked up against Wakefield at Sixways.

Hall was sent for a scan on his back yesterday after it went into spasm on Saturday. The results should be known today but Brain admitted Hall was "extremely doubtful" for Henley. With one hooker struggling, therefore, Brain will be monitoring Daly closely and his dead leg.

"We are hopeful that Ben will be OK for Saturday," said Brain.