GARY Gold insists he has “no issues” with number eight Alafoti Fa’osiliva’s fitness ahead of Worcester Warriors’ season opener at Newcastle Falcons.

Warriors’ director of rugby also confirmed lock Will Spencer would be available for the trip to Kingston Park next Friday (7.45pm) despite failing to feature in pre-season.

But scrum-half Michael Dowsett who has also not played in any of Warriors’ three friendlies, is likely to miss the clash as he continues to be assessed by the club's backroom staff.

Fa’osiliva was the only unused replacement in Worcester’s 35-26 defeat to Munster on Thursday night.

But Gold admitted the Samoa international had a dead leg and he was reluctant to risk him suffering further damage.

“Foti has a dead leg, so do you risk him getting another knock in a pre-season game? I think not,” Gold said.

“There is not an issue with his fitness as he had a run out the week before.”

Dowsett and Spencer are understood to be being held back as a precaution as Warriors who have a number of players on the injury list prepare for the new season.

“We are managing them at the moment,” Gold said.

“They have had a couple of little niggles and I pretty much know at this stage if we don’t need to risk them in a pre-season game with such a long Premiership season I won’t do.”

He added: “Michael is undergoing just some final assessments, but he is in full training.

“We are just keeping him out of the games at the moment.

“I am hoping he will be fit and ready for action in the next couple of weeks and I think Will will be available for selection next week.”