STAND-off Tony Yapp is ready to bolster Worcester's stuttering promotion battle after shrugging off an illness which knocked his season sideways.

The former Bedford star admits he hasn't been 100 per cent going into matches for more than a month.

Saturday's 41-3 victory over Orrell was the first match since Headingley in December that the 22-year-old has been able to play at full tilt.

Yapp moved to Sixways from Goldington Road in the summer and went straight into the first team at stand-off.

Five tries, coupled with the kicking duties, saw him undisputed as Premiership Two's top scorer, a total which has now reached 150.

But his season began to falter at the same time as the team's went the same way.

"I'd been feeling bad since just before the Exeter game. I played there but maybe I shouldn't have done," he says frankly.

"I've been feeling rough after playing. I would miss training on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, get selected for the team and that would bring it back.

"By the London Irish game, I felt awful. So Les said I had to get myself right and told me to do nothing for a week so I didn't."

The decision to rest was the right one, but the timing was unfortunate as Yapp missed the crucial Leeds game, which Worcester lost 12-6.

After the rest and a course of penicillin, he has declared himself fit and ready for the cause, kicking off with 12 of Worcester's points in the 41-3 demolition of Orrell.

"I'm feeling 100 per cent now but I was a little bit tired in the middle of the game as I've not been doing so much training," he added.

"But playing when I was unwell took the edge off it. I don't like missing games, but you've got to say to yourself 'if you're not fit, don't push it'. You're better off saying that you're not well."

Yapp and the rest of the squad now find themselves in a position where they can't aff-ord any more slip-ups, though he feels they can build up a long winning sequence, starting with some easier fixtures.

"A few big wins will help to get the confidence back," he added.

"We've been a bit down but the spirit's back up and we have to enjoy it again as that's half the battle."