FLY-HALF Tom Heathcote wants to play a full part in Worcester Warriors’ final three matches despite battling with a “stinger” type shoulder injury.

The 24-year-old half-back played the full 80 minutes against London Irish but was replaced in the second half in Warriors’ last outing at Exeter Chiefs on April 2.

Warriors return to Aviva Premiership action against Midlands rivals Wasps at Sixways on Saturday (3pm).

“I had a knock at the start of the London Irish game and I was able to plough on but it happened again in the second half of the Exeter game,” said Heathcote.

“I got taken off but hopefully it should be OK.

“It was like a stinger injury but it was slightly different to a normal stinger problem.”

Heathcote was one of Warriors’ heroes against Irish, kicking 12 points in a crucial 12-6 win against the bottom club.

“I had a bit of pins and needles and pain around my neck and shoulder but, hopefully, it will settle down in time for the last few games,” he said.

“Luckily, with the problem being on my right shoulder and neck, it didn’t affect my kicking too much.

“When the kicks came against Irish, I was able to concentrate on process and technique and block out everything else and it worked pretty well.”

With Irish losing at home to Sale Sharks, Warriors’ Premiership survival was confirmed after their 50-12 defeat at Exeter Chiefs.

Heathcote, a former Bath and Edinburgh players, admits the Warriors players were too drained emotionally and physically from the defeat – and the run of 10 matches – to celebrate their Premiership safety, “Because of the physical and emotional output over the 10 weeks, everyone was pretty drained,” said Heathcote.

“Even though safety was secured we were all disappointed with what happened at Exeter.

“Even after the Irish win there hadn’t been much of a celebration because the feeling in the squad was of so much fatigue and there was a lot of illness floating around the squad.

“I think it was a case of ‘job done’ and we just wanted to relax and recover.

“In private, I imagine everyone has had a sigh of relief knowing we can go into the last three games without the outside pressure of relegation.”

After Saturday’s visit from third-placed Wasps, Warriors round off the campaign with a trip to Leicester Tigers on April 30 before hosting Saracens on May 7.

“We don’t want to finish the last three games with performances like the one we put out at Exeter,” said Heathcote.

“If we repeat that it would put a downer on the end of the season and going into the off-season and that is not what we want.

“We would love to go out with three good performances which we can be proud of and build upon so it’s important we don’t write off the games.”

He added: “The job isn’t done and this season was never just been about being able to staying in the division.

“The whole season has been about trying to move the club forward and the only way we can do that is by having a go at the big teams and trying to show the direction this club is heading.”