INJURED scrum-half Francois Hougaard is coming on “leaps and bounds” in his battle to regain fitness, according to Worcester Warriors chief Alan Solomons.

Although he has yet to return to training Solomons said the outlook was starting to appear “more positive” for the South Africa international.

Hougaard has been sidelined since suffering a blow to his ankle in Warriors’ 22-9 defeat at London Irish in late February.

Solomons said he would make a call tomorrow on whether the 30-year-old would be fit enough to face Wasps at the Ricoh Arena in the Aviva Premiership on Saturday (3pm).

But his chances seem slim with Worcester’s director of rugby saying Hougaard would need “sufficient training under his belt” before returning to competitive action.

“He is coming on leaps and bounds so we will just have to see,” Solomons said.

“But he is improving and it is starting to look more positive.”

Hougaard has featured just 10 times for Warriors this season due to international duty and injuries.

“He has still got to be integrated into training,” Solomons continued.

“We will have a look at it and make a decision tomorrow like we always do.

“But we will make sure we do the right thing by the player because if we do that we will do the right thing by the team.

“If the player doesn’t feel that he can play then clearly he is not going to.

“A combination of things (come into making a decision over a player’s fitness).

“You have got the medical side of it where you have got to be sure that he doesn’t go and do himself any more damage by playing.

“You have got the conditioning side of it where he has got to have sufficient training under his belt and a sufficient load to be able to play.

“And there is the player’s side of it as he needs to feel comfortable to be able to play and then we make a selection decision.”

Solomons does expect centre Jackson Willison and prop Ethan Waller to be available for Warriors’ trip to Wasps.

Willison was forced off for a head injury assessment in the final stages of Worcester’s 27-13 win over Newcastle Falcons last weekend.

But Solomons confirmed the New Zealander was “absolutely fine” and had been training with the squad.

Waller has recovered from a shoulder problem which forced him to miss the Falcons clash but Solomons said he was impressed with Ryan Bower’s performance.

Bower replaced the injury Waller and lasted the full 80 minutes as Warriors came from behind to beat Newcastle.

“Ethan should be fine,” said Solomons on Waller's chances of facing Wasps.

“Ryan played very well (against Falcons).

“Since I have been here Ethan has been in pole position.

“I know it was the other way around before but they are both fantastic blokes, very good players and excellent team men.

“We are a very fortunate as a club to have the two of them.”