WORCESTER'S director of rugby John Brain admits fat-igue contributed to his side's 41-19 defeat at Cardiff Blues on Saturday.

The coaching staff have been conditioning the players right up to match-day for their first two pre-season games in a bid to boost their fitness levels ahead of the new campaign.

But the same approach will not be used for Friday's match with Calvisano or when the sea-son gets under way for real.

"What everyone has to appreciate is that we have not approached either of the two trial games so far like a normal game," said Brain.

"The players have had constant training right through the week without a day off so they have been conditioned up to the game.

"That will change slightly this week and obviously will change in the run-up to the league programme.

"There is some fatigue there but we are quite happy to carry that into the game because hopefully it will stand us in good stead come the start of the regular season."

Brain added that wing Aisea Havili was recovering well following a shoulder operation.

"He's progressing quite nicely," he said. "He has a specialist appointment on September 11. We are still working on the fact that he'll miss the first two games of the season."