WORCESTER Warriors have been dealt yet another injury blow as British and Irish Lions prop Rory Sutherland was ruled out for the next month.

Head coach Jonathan Thomas confirmed the news in the weekly press conference on Wednesday.

Sutherland was set to be away on international duty with Scotland through November but it looks like he will miss games with Australia, South Africa and Japan due to an oblique injury picked up in the build-up to the game with Sale Sharks last week.

The summer recruit was down to start for Warriors in the win over Sale last Saturday but was pulled out before kick-off and won't be back in action before December.

Worcester have already lost the likes of Willi Heinz, Melani Nanai and Owen Williams this season and have also been without Ollie Lawrence until last weekend.

Warriors make the trip down the M5 to Bristol to face the Bears on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off) and will also have to make do so without their internationals.

Duhan van der Merwe is with Scotland as they face Australia and number eight Sione Vailanu has joined up with Tonga as they head to Twickenham to tackle Eddie Jones' England side.

Tonga were beaten 60-14 by Scotland last weekend at BT Murrayfield but Vailanu was not eligible to play as the game fell outside of the international window.

The back-rower started for Warriors in the 27-14 win over Sharks but now returns to the national side for the autumn fixtures.

Luckily for Warriors, Ted Hill and Lawrence are not involved at this stage for England so will be in the side to tackle 12th placed Bristol.

The Bears will be without tighthead prop Kyle Sinckler as he starts in the test against Tonga but fly-half Callum Sheedy is expected to be released in time to face Warriors.

Sheedy has been away training with Wales this week but with Wayne Pivac selecting four fly-halves in his squad for the Autumn internationals in Dan Biggar, Gareth Anscombe and Rhys Priestland, Sheedy looks set to return to his Premiership club while the national side host South Africa at the Principality Stadium.

The game at Ashton Gate sees Worcester's head coach Thomas return to his old stomping ground where he will go head-to-head with previous mentor Pat Lam.

Thomas worked under Lam at Bristol for four years.

"We know it’s going to be a huge test because Bristol are a quality side," he added.

"I had four great years there. I know the players and coaches well and I am looking forward to going back there, catching up with Pat Lam, the coaches and players after the match. But I have a job to do first."