GREG Rawlinson is hoping to play a leadership role alongside Worcester Warriors captain Pat Sanderson when he arrives at Sixways in November.

The All Black lock, who is currently playing for North Harbour in the Air New Zealand Cup, is also planning to inject some steel into the Warriors second row.

The 30-year-old, who played the last of his three Tests against his native South Africa in Durban in June, has no regrets about leaving New Zealand and is determined to win trophies with the Warriors.

"I'm extremely motivated," he said. "We've got some outstanding players at Worcester and everyone at the club is working really hard for the team to be successful. "Sometimes when everything else is going well, it's just a few silly errors that can be the difference between winning and losing big games, so we have to cut those out as a team.

"Hopefully I can play my part by playing consistently well and being one of the team's leaders on the field."

However, after finishing his duties with North Harbour, Rawlinson will be taking a holiday to rest his body and recover in time for the start of his Warriors career.

He added: "It looks like I will be arriving to start my first training session for the Warriors on November 19.

"I haven't had a proper rest since November last year, with my domestic and international commitments for the All Blacks, so I want to be well rested and refreshed when I arrive at Sixways."

Rawlinson has also reassured Worcester supporters that his finger, which was savagely bitten in North Harbour's recent defeat against Waikato, is on the mend and there are no complications. "I'm in one piece so Warriors fans don't need to worry," he said. "I've just got a couple of teeth-marks at the end of my index finger which is healing nicely.

"It happened at the bottom of a ruck when I pushed off one of the Waikato players to reach the next phase.

"My hand was near his mouth and he managed to clamp onto it for a while, but the medical tests have confirmed that I haven't picked up anything so there are no problems."

Rawlinson assumed the North Harbour captaincy during their Air New Zealand Cup campaign this season but his side have struggled in the bottom half of the table.

"I don't want to end on a negative note in New Zealand and I'll be doing my best in the remaining games," he said.