WE had some bad news this week when Earl Va'a was diagnosed with a fractured thumb and will be out for three weeks.

It is very disappointing for Earl but we are hoping he can be ready for the Saracens match if we come through our Tetley Bitter Cup fourth round tie at Tynedale.

Va'a is a key player for us this season and with Andrew Higgins already out, we signed South African under-21 centre Rudi Keil this week to boost the squad.

Keil is an up and coming young player who I think will make a big difference to us. He has signed until the end of the season and if he does well then we will talk about a new contract. He will start at Waterloo on Saturday, if we get his clearance through, when we get back to league action after our Tetley Bitter Cup exploits at Moseley. I was looking to make changes for the Waterloo game anyway because there are some players, such as Earl, who have played every game this season. Sateki Tuipulotu will take a rest as will Laulala Langkilde and Chris Simpson-Daniel. Scrum half Richard Jarman will come in for his first start while Tony Yapp will come in for Va'a. There will also be a return for Nick Baxter who has shown he is very hungry for first team action in training.

I expect the players coming into the side to take their chances because they are desperate for a game. In the past, I hold my hands up, I have made changes for changes sake and learned my lesson. However, the lesson I have to understand now is that there are players who are ready to come in.

We have the forward base now which I am not going to tinker with but I think I can bring in some players into the team who will make a difference. Players have to understand the squad system we have here at Worcester. It's not a great joy for me to turn around to a player who has just played his part in a victorious team and say "you're out" but sometimes it needs to be done for their benefit. Players want to play in every game but what they must also understand is that sometimes as a coach you need to make changes.

I thought we were very solid at Moseley, especially after our sloppy performance against Wakefield the week before. We controlled the game and our defence and execution was much improved. I don't think Moseley ever looked likely to score a try and you have to remember, Worcester have never beaten Moseley on their home turf before. I am not particularly bothered about history. The past is gone, you can't do anything about it. What I am interested in is this season not what has happened here with other teams and different coaches. However, it is nice to make a bit of history every now and again!

Waterloo provides a different kind of a test for the side but I want them to go there and play like champions. A lot has been said about Worcester and the money spent. However, I don't think we have reached our potential yet and I am demanding a win at Waterloo and a bonus point. We travel there as potential champions and I expect a champion performance on Saturday. Finally I would, once again, like to thank the support you gave us at Moseley. It was fantastic and it felt as if we were playing at home. You make a big difference to us with the support and hope to hear it again at Waterloo.