WE have suspected for some time that Pat Sanderson and Chris Horsman would be called upon for national service next month but whether their selection will gratify fans of Worcester is another question altogether.

First and foremost, it is a great source of pride for everyone connected with the Warriors that two of their own have established themselves as players of international class.

In Sanderson's case, he may even get the opportunity to captain his country once again and honours do not come much higher than that.

There is no doubt having an England captain among your ranks will enhance the reputation of a club still struggling to attract the very best players. So, from that point of view, their call-ups should rightly be regarded as a blessing to the clubs who pay their wages.

The forward duo can contribute plenty to the causes of their respective countries during November and it would be fantastic to see them produce the kind of performances which really put Worcester on the map.

But it would be even more beneficial from the club's perspective if those left behind can put some much-needed Premiership wins on the board during their absence.

Last December, the pair returned to a club in fourth position in the league and still unbeaten at Sixways.

This current side may have more modest aspirations but there is no reason why they can't haul themselves off the bottom of the table over the same period.

There are few harder places to go than Welford Road when you are desperate for a win but Leicester have six players in the England squad alone and Worcester have pushed them very close in their last two visits.

Unfortunately, the absence of Horsman and Sanderson for the November 4 meeting will be compounded by the loss of Dale Rasmussen through suspension.

Northampton and Harlequins may be less inconvenienced by the autumn Test series and those two matches could be critical to Worcester's ambitions of staying in the Premiership.

They round off the month with a trip to Saracens, which promises to be a daunting prospect, even if they are at less than full-strength.

In positional terms, Sanderson and Horsman won't be too difficult to replace.

Drew Hickey is a superb athlete and his lack of game-time this season has been mysterious, especially given his side's discomfort at the line-out.

Sanderson's departure will allow Hickey to return to the side at number eight and Kai Horstmann will move to the blind-side, a position where his excellent reading of the game should come to the fore.

The void left by Horsman's involvement with Wales will be filled by Tevita Taumoepeau. The two have been vying for the number three jersey and the Tongan proved for much of last season that he is a perfectly capable tight-head.

But, with the club captain expected to be away for a month and his deputy Tony Windo still on the treatment table, the coaching staff need the senior players to show leadership.

Horstmann looks set to continue as captain but the man with the most responsibility on his shoulders is Shane Drahm.

The diminutive fly-half kicked Northampton to death this time last year and Warriors are heavily reliant on him to provide the points and the inspiration which might just get the club moving in the right direction again.