WORCESTER Rugby Club have been dealt an injury blow ahead of their battle of Waterloo on Saturday with Earl Va'a ruled out for three weeks.

The Samoan international fly-half has a fractured hand and will definitely miss the weekend's National Division One clash as well as the Tetley Bitter Cup fourth round tie at Tynedale on November 4.

Sixways' director of coaching Adrian Skeggs is hoping, should Worcester come through their fourth round tie, Va'a could return at Saracens in the fifth round.

Va'a has been playing with the injury for a number of weeks but Skeggs felt the problem had to be addressed now before it got worse.

He said: "We wanted to sort out the problem while we have two cup games coming up because Earl is an important player for us. He should play a central part in our season so we want him fit.

"The injury is a blow for us but the most important thing is that we get him right for the rest of the season."

Tony Yapp replaces Va'a for the visit to Blundellsands as Skeggs makes five changes to the side which won 34-6 at Moseley on Saturday.

Yapp makes his first start of the season while new South African signing Rudi Keil will come in at centre if he receives his clearance in time. Kiwi Richard Jarman also makes his first full start in a Worcester shirt after his recent move. Jarman played 30 minutes at Moseley and looked impressive at scrum-half. Winger Nick Baxter is recalled while Dave Merlin comes back at number eight.

Laulala Langkilde, Chris Simpson-Daniel and Sateki Tuipulotu are rested while Scottish international Cameron Mather also drops out.

Skeggs said: "I think Cameron will be the first to admit he has not hit top form so far and he needs to take a look at himself because he has been disappointing since he came into the side.

"Players such as Langkilde and Tuipulotu have played every game this season so they need a rest while Jarman has looked really impressive and deserves his chance in place of Simpson-Daniel.

"However, it is up to the players coming in to take their chances and impress. The players who have been left out will obviously be disappointed to be left out but they can show me in training just how much they want to get back in the side."

Worcester: Back; Baxter, Murdoch, Keil, Bromley; Yapp, Jarman; Lyman, Lamerton, Collins, Zaltzman, Sims, Fryday, Carter, Merlin.