LOOSEHEAD prop Ethan Waller is expected to be fit for Worcester Warriors’ Gallagher Premiership opener against Leicester Tigers at Sixways on Saturday (3pm).

Waller limped off the field four minutes into the second half of Warriors’ Premiership Cup defeat at Wasps at the weekend.

But director of rugby Alan Solomons was quick to calm fears over Waller’s injury, insisting he was withdrawn as a “precaution”.

“Ethan should be absolutely fine,” Solomons said.

“There should not be any problems there. I just removed him as a precaution.

“Callum (Black) was going to get 30 minutes anyway as that was pre-planned so what was the point of keeping Ethan on for that extra five minutes?

“He took a little bit of a knock so it was best to get him off straight away.”

There are doubts over lock Andrew Kitchener who failed to come back on after having a head injury assessment (HIA) just before the break.

But his second-row colleague Anton Bresler lasted the full 80 minutes after recovering from an ankle problem.

And Solomons was also confident lock Michael Fatialofa would be in the mix to face Tigers despite being ruled out of the trip to Wasps with a knee issue.

“Michael had an injection in the knee so that should settle and he should be fine and available for selection,” Solomons said.

Tighthead prop Conor Carey did not return for the second half at the Ricoh Arena but Solomons added: “That was pre-planned.

“Rich Palframan missed the game against Exeter as he went on and came off for the HIA (at Bath) so we felt that he needed 40 minutes.

“Conor got 60 minutes last week so we felt they both needed to play.”

Solomons used the cup to run the rule over his squad but refused to say how close he was to naming his side to tackle Leicester.

“We have a little bit of time to make the call so we will be measured and considered in what we do,” Solomons said.

“There’s no hurry. Of course there are decisions to be made.

“We feel there is competition across the board and we have to weigh up everything, keep perspective on it and make the decisions.”

After being impressed with his team’s showing in the 34-19 loss to Exeter Chiefs, Solomons was left disappointed at Wasps as Warriors went down 39-6.

Asked whether that performance would play a part in his decision-making, Solomons said: “Each game is different.

“They did do very well the previous week but right up until half-time (on Saturday) we were doing really well and then they scored those 10 points.

“When they went out to 18-6 we were in trouble.

“What I have to do is mull over the whole thing and reflect on what I have seen over the past four weeks.

“The last two games have been against really good opposition.”