WORCESTER Warriors' head coach Jonathan Thomas has said a decision will be made "later this week" on whether full-back Melani Nanai could make an unexpected return to action in this weekend's Gallagher Premiership clash with Leicester Tigers at Sixways (3pm).
Nanai, 27, has been sidelined since January after tearing his hamstring and was initially ruled out for the remainder of the 2021/21 campaign, but there remains a chance that Warriors' supporters could watch him in the flesh before the season ends.
Thomas said the former Super Rugby man is being closely monitored by physios and the focus remains on ensuring he is fully recovered before selection.
"Melani Nanai is back in training with us," he said
"But after being out for such a long time, he has to build capacity before he is involved again. We need to make sure with the medical department that he has gone through the right return to play protocol before he is made available for selection.
"So we will need to make a call on that later in the week."
Thomas has also confirmed in today's media session that Duncan Weir is in line for a return to action for the first time since February.
The Scottish fly-half was taken off in the first half against this weekend's opposition at the Mattioli Woods Welford Road earlier in the year and later required surgery for a tear in the shoulder.
Weir, who will complete a move back to Glasgow Warriors this summer, trained for the first time the week of the Wasps fixture but was not deemed fully fit to feature.
But with three games left of the 2020/21 campaign, the much-appreciated outside half looks set to play a part in his final three games in a Worcester shirt.
In other injury news, head coach Jonathan Thomas revealed that Noah Heward is back in contention after recovering from an injury, as is 18-year-old Fin Smith, who missed the fixture with Wasps due to a knock.
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