RICHARD Smith has handed John Brain a major pre-season headache by expressing his desire to join Cardiff.

Worcester Rugby Club's scrum-half, who enjoyed a superb debut campaign at Sixways last season, looks set to join the Arms Park club in a bid to re-ignite his international career.

The 29-year-old held talks with Cardiff earlier this week, but Worcester are determined to fight for compensation with Smith still tied to Sixways on a two-year deal.

Smith's impending exit is an untimely one for Worcester's director of rugby Brain who brought in South African scrum-half Werner Swanepoel this summer to reinforce his half-back options.

Cardiff, however, are desperate to recruit another top-class number nine after Robert Howley's switch to Wasps this week.

Worcester were remaining tight-lipped about Smith's situation today but Brain did admit that the former Welsh international had spoken to Cardiff officials over a move.

"We believe that Richard has talked to Cardiff but our position is that he signed a two-year contract with Worcester this time last year," said Brain.

Smith was one of the outstanding players at Worcester last season and easily fought off the challenges of Elton Moncrieff and Ricky Pellow for the scrum-half berth.

Speculation, however, has been rife during the summer of his intention to quit Worcester following the Swanepoel swoop. And although Smith checked in for pre-season training last week, he has always reiterated his intention to get back on the international stage and sees Cardiff as the ideal vehicle to take him back into the big time especially with Howley now retired from Welsh duty.

With Smith seemingly on his way out, Brain is left with a race against time to bring in another scrum-half before the start of the pre-season programme.

Youngster Tom Richardson has recently been promoted from the academy to the first team, but Brain will want another experienced player for Worcester's vital National One campaign.

The wily Worcester boss, however, is believed to already have Smith's replacement in mind and will now bid to finalise the deal before his squad jet off to tour South Africa next month.