JAMIE Shillcock “still harbours the ambition to play at 10” despite being a “natural at 15” according to Worcester Warriors boss Alan Solomons.

The rising star will fill the void left by injured full-back Chris Pennell when Warriors visit Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership today (3pm).

Shillcock, 22, is viewed by many as a future successor to Pennell, 32, having produced a series of impressive performances in the number 15 shirt.

But the talented back yearns to pull the strings in the number 10 jersey and stepped up into that role on a number of occasions during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.

Several injury setbacks and the arrival of Duncan Weir and Jono Lance last summer has seen Shillcock slip to third in the pecking order. But Solomons suggested Shillcock’s future may lie at full-back.

Speaking at Warriors’ supporters’ forum last month Solomons said Shillcock’s preferred position was fly-half, but had “the makings of a terrific 15”.

“Jamie is an extremely talented player,” Solomons said.

“The difficultly with 10 is that you are like the quarterback in American football as you control the game.

“Experience is important and due to the nature of the Premiership it has been difficult for Jamie to get the amount of game-time that one would like him to get there.

“We have got two experienced number 10s in Duncan and Jono.

“Jamie’s preference is to give it a go at 10.

“In my first season Jamie and Sam Olver competed for that number 10 position.

“Jamie then came through and was playing alongside Millsy (Ryan Mills) at 12 which helped him no end.

“But he is a natural at 15 because there is a different kind of responsibility when you are playing there.

“He has got incredible natural attributes (for that position) like his pace.”

Solomons felt Shillcock, above, showed his talents at full-back when he produced a searing break to set up Tom Howe in Warriors’ Premiership Cup defeat to Exeter Chiefs last month.

“I made that (run) my pick of the week in my review after that game,” Solomons said.

“He absolutely skinned their guy on the outside for Tommy’s second try. The guy could not get near him.

“Jamie has got all the physical attributes and the makings of a terrific 15.

“He still harbours the ambition to play at 10 so we have got to give him that opportunity. But he is not averse to playing at 15.”