WORCESTER Rugby Club's new signing Mark Gabey is set to have an operation on a troublesome knee injury later this month.

The 28-year-old forward is booked in on June 21 to clear up his knee after his Sixways medical flagged up the problem. The operation, however, will only need a 10-day recovery period and Gabey is expected to join up with his new team-mates on July 1.

Worcester's director of rugby, John Brain, is determined to leave to nothing to chance as he goes into his second season at Sixways.

"We picked up that he had a poor range of movement in one knee," said Brain. "It's a wear and tear problem which just needs cleaning out. We don't leave anything to chance now at Worcester and every player has a thorough medical before he is signed."

Brain, meanwhile, has provisionally arranged two pre-season Sixways friendlies in August.

Premiership duo Bristol and Bath will visit Worcester on August 3 and 11/12 respectively. The date for the Bath game has yet to be finalised.