PAT Sanderson does not have a "major preference" about which position he plays in - according to his Warriors boss.

The Worcester captain has established himself as a top-class number seven since arriving at Sixways two-and-a-half years ago but has been used predominantly as a blind-side flanker by his club and a number eight by the national side.

And Sixways director of rugby John Brain feels Sanderson is adaptable enough to slot in anywhere in the back row.

"I think he's capable of playing any one of those positions and he is capable of moving positions from week to week," said Brain.

"I don't really think he has got a major preference. As far as we are concerned, we would move him around depending on who we are playing and the balance of the back-row players we have got available."

Brain believes Sanderson did his chances of future England selection no harm in the Autumn internationals, although he admits the problems experienced during Andy Robinson's final days as head coach didn't do his skipper any favours.

"We know what it is like to be in a losing camp. It does affect you mentally and physically," he said.

"Pat went from here to the England camp, which was also losing, and everything and everybody in that set-up was then under intense scrutiny.

"I think it was a pretty claustrophobic and oppressive environment to be in for a player.

"Without being too critical of what has been going on there, I think with Andy Robinson, John Wells and Brian Ashton there wasn't a consistent message coming through about how England wanted to play the game.

"That leads to an inconsistent message about what players are required and the selection, hence players being moved around.

"Pat can play six, seven or eight and I don't think he's come out of it badly at all.

"England have a problem at open-side, but we don't at this club. We have got Tom Harding, who has been in outstanding form for the past two months.

"England have Lewis Moody who is a destructive player and after that there's not a lot of players in form in that seven shirt playing Premiership rugby."