BACK-row tyro Matt Cox is poised to fill the void left by injuries to Worcester Warriors number eights Kai Horstmann and Netani Talei for Saturday’s LV Cup trip to Scarlets (3pm).

The academy product impressed on loan at Championship side Birmingham and Solihull last weekend and Warriors boss Mike Ruddock is ready to hand him the chance to further his claims at Parc y Scarlets.

Already this season, Ruddock has shifted skipper Pat Sanderson from openside to number eight and drafted in Jake Abbott at seven to cover for Horstmann’s absence.

But the Sixways chief has hinted former England youth international Cox, 21, will get the nod at the back of the pack on this occassion.

Ruddock said: “Matt played on Saturday for Birmingham and Solihull, so he’s had a bit more experience in the Championship.

“Jake and James Collins have had experience in the first team too so we can cover Netani in the short term.

“We’ve brought Matt back from Birmingham and Solihull and he will be in the panel this weekend. It’s a big opportunity for him and he has been playing some fantastic rugby for our ‘A’ team — he was excellent in the ‘A’ League win over Leicester Tigers.

“So, if he does get the opportunity this weekend, it is up to him to grab it with both hands.”

Although first-choice number eight Horstmann is nearing full fitness — it is hoped he can make the bench for next Friday’s huge Guinness Premiership clash with Bath at Sixways — Fijian ace Talei is facing an extended spell on the sidelines.

Ruddock added: “We’re hopeful Kai will play some part next week depending on how his training goes.

“He’s doing skills work with us now and we hope he can do contact training next week.

“With a bit of luck, Kai might sneak on to the panel for the Bath game and the timing couldn’t be better with Netani having his injury.

“We’re waiting for scans to come back on Netani’s injuries to his knee and shoulder.

“The knee should be about a month but my medical team are more concerned about the shoulder than they were straight after the game on Saturday.

“He hasn’t slept well over the last couple of nights and they are fearful it could take a little longer than we originally thought.”

Ruddock is planning to rotate his squad for the trip to Llanelli in a bid to freshen players up ahead of a run of important Premiership and European matches.

He explained: “I’ll rest a few guys this weekend as we’ve got a short turn-around before we play Bath the following Friday in the Premiership.

“As much as we want to progress in the LV Cup, we want to make sure we are in good shape in the league and push on there.

“We’ve got a number of massive games coming up and this weekend is probably my last opportunity to rest a few guys before we go into a very heavy schedule.”