ANDY Keast looked to the heavens yesterday but there was to be no divine intervention.

"Somebody up there is not looking after us," he said as another Sixways star took a turn for the worse.

Worcester's injury crisis deepened as David Officer took to the crutches after an ankle problem flared up in training.

Already without Ben Hinshelwood and James Ogilvie-Bull in the midfield, Officer had seemed a certain starter in Worcester's showdown at Rotherham on Saturday before the injury. The centre problems came on the back of some freakish injuries in Worcester's match with Wakefield at the weekend as first Richard Bates retired early, soon to be followed by Gavin Pfister and Richard Nias.

With Christian Evans already ruled out of the Millmoor clash, it left coach Keast and director of rugby John Brain with some interesting selection dilemmas ahead of the big one.

"We've had a lot of bad luck over the past seven days," said Keast.

"It's very unfortunate but the positive thing is that none of the injuries are long-term. We could be sitting here with all those players out for months. We are lucky enough to be saying that David Officer has not broken his leg.

"But we've got faith in the squad here at Sixways. Whoever gets the starting shirt at Rotherham will give more than 100 per cent for this club. We've been telling the boys this week to remember what's worked for them this season so far. You cannot fault what they've done this season -- 72 tries in 10 games -- you cannot ask more than that. Win, lose or draw though, the season doesn't start or finish at Millmoor -- there is a lot of rugby to be played after that match."

Worcester go into the match as leaders of National One with 10 wins from 10 and a 100 per cent bonus point record. They lead Rotherham by one point and have now carved out a superior goal difference, such has been their consistency this season. Brain, however, believes that Rotherham at home must start as favourites.

"Rotherham are at home, are unbeaten and are the champions. We seem to get to these games and everyone is fighting over the underdog tag. We don't care about that but it surprises me that some people up there are talking as if they are the underdogs.

"I think, in the wake of all our injuries and problems though, that if we do go up there and beat them it would be all the more sweet."

The game will be billed as Rotherham's pack versus Worcester's backs but that blanket generalisation gives little credit to players such as Michael Wood, who has 17 league tries to his name, or Mark Gabey who has proved to be one of the shrewdest summer signings at Sixways. Certainly, Gabey's versatility will be vital at Millmoor with the former Bath lock likely to fill in as flanker after Worcester's injury nightmares.

"People look at the statistics and the way in which we play and say that our strength is within our backs," said Keast.

"But I don't think our forwards get the credit they deserve. When we play expansive, 15-man rugby it is the forwards who win the games for us -- the backs decide by how many. Without our forwards, our backs wouldn't be able to do what they do. People talk of Rotherham's pack but their backs aren't that bad! Look at Michael Wood. It's easy to generalise but we have to look at the bigger picture."

Rotherham have also had problems going into the game. Centre John Cannon is away with Canada while fly half Ramiro Pez is unavailable because of Italian duty. They are also without influential lock Glen Kenworthy because of damaged rib cartilage.

"I think both camps are suffering a bit," said Rotherham's chief executive Jim Kilfoyle.

"Obviously it is a game which is courting a lot of attention but whoever wins it will just gain an advantage -- nothing more. The form, though, that Worcester are in, you have to put them as slight favourites because they've shown the consistency this season -- something we haven't.

"They are playing well together and look a good, cohesive unit. We haven't been consistent this season so far and nothing sums that up more than Friday night's performance at Rugby -- we were bloody awful!

"The top and bottom of it, though, is that we are both Premiership sides and we could both compete in the top flight.

"I think Worcester have improved since last season, there's no doubt about that -- they are more cohesive now. I think keeping some continuity in the coaching and playing side obviously helps. They have kept a core of the side together and that's what we always tried to do even when we got relegated."

Rotherham are well aware of the significance of Saturday's clash but Kilfoyle does not believe anything crucial will be settled at Millmoor.

"We don't know what the crucial games are yet. When Worcester got that one-point advantage, we were glad to come away from Birmingham with a win -- never mind a bonus point.

"It's those games, when you just don't know what is going to happen, they are the ones that are going to decide the title. Saturday is a big game but it's the banana skins which will go a long way to prove who can last the pace."