DIRECTOR of rugby Alan Solomons has provided a positive update on the recovery of lock Will Spencer and scrum-half Francois Hougaard.

However doubts hang over the fitness of flanker Sam Lewis ahead of Worcester Warriors’ Aviva Premiership trip to relegation rivals London Irish on Sunday (1pm).

A bout of sickness forced Spencer to miss Worcester’s 6-5 win at Exeter Chiefs and their 25-15 victory over Gloucester last Saturday.

But Solomons anticipates the Leicester Tigers-bound 25-year-old will be “good to go” for Warriors’ clash with bottom club Irish at the Madejski Stadium.

“Will is coming along well and is looking much better,” said Solomons whose side are 16 points clear of Irish.

“I spoke to him last Thursday and he just didn’t feel right.

“Darren Barry has been doing well and we have got Donncha (O’Callaghan) and Brezzy (Anton Bresler) who have been playing some really good rugby.

“I think it was a wise decision (not to play Will) but for this weekend it’s looking like he will be good to go.”

Solomons is also hoping South Africa international Hougaard will overcome an ankle issue in time to face Irish.

The influential 29-year-old picked up the injury in the hard-fought victory at Exeter with his absence creating an opening for Jonny Arr to start on his testimonial day.

“Francois wasn’t right, so we weren’t going to risk him,” Solomons said.

“It was better to play Jonny and in Balders (Luke Baldwin) and Michael Dowsett we have got good scrum-halves as well.

“Francois is improving and we hope he will continue to get better.”

However Solomons said Lewis was “in the hands of the medics” after sustaining a blow to the head in Warriors’ clash with Gloucester.

The 27-year-old was helped off the field on 29 minutes for a head injury assessment and did not return with Alafoti Fa’osiliva taking his place.

Speaking immediately after the game Solomons said: “I can’t comment. You have got to be cautious with these things.

“It’s in the hands of the medics and he goes through a protocol, so it’s not really in my hands at all.”

Captain Donncha O’Callaghan quickly rushed to Lewis’ aid before urging referee Tom Foley to stop play for the back rower to be treated.

On O’Callaghan’s reaction Solomons said: “Donncha is as keen as mustard for the team and keen for us to do well so he was just being enthusiastic.”

The former Ireland international was replaced at half-time for the second successive week but Solomons insisted it was a “tactical” decision with Anton Bresler playing the final 40 minutes.

“We put Brezzy on at half-time and he did really well,” Solomons added.

“All the boys that came on made a big difference.”

Warriors’ decision to select six forwards and two backs on the bench has paid off in recent weeks.

But Solomons admitted he would need to weigh up his options ahead of their battle with Irish.

“There is always risk associated with it so we discussed it at length,” Solomons said.

“On Saturday it worked for us, but we will consider our position for each game and determine as a group what we are going to do.”