THE wait is almost over for centre Ashley Beck and loosehead prop Ryan Bower as they look set to return for Worcester Warriors.

The experienced pair were ruled out for much of last term with Beck breaking his leg in October and Bower rupturing his Achilles tendon in November.

But the duo have been in full training during Warriors’ long pre-season and are back in the selection pot ahead of the new campaign.

Beck, who arrived at Sixways from Ospreys last summer, is likely to start in Worcester’s Premiership Cup home clash with Leicester Tigers on Saturday (3pm).

And director of rugby Alan Solomons is hoping to see more of the injury-plagued former Wales international this season.

“It has been a while (since Ash last played),” Solomons said.

“He is a great team man and a very good rugby player. He is one guy that deserves for things to run his way a bit.”

Bower is also being considered for the season opener against his former club with Solomons admitting the scrummager was looking as “solid as a rock” in training.

The 28-year-old, who is just five appearances away from becoming a club centurion, has not played since collapsing awkwardly in a scrum at Saracens.

“It was an unfortunate injury but he is back and practising fully,” Solomons said.

“He is good to go but we will bleed him back into rugby from the bench.

“Ryan is a committed rugby player. He is a good professional, knows and understands his role well and is as solid as a rock.”

It will be Warriors’ first match since the 2018-19 campaign came to an end four months ago.

Despite the long summer Worcester decided not to play any friendlies and will instead be using the Premiership Cup to gear up for the league season which kicks off next month.

Unlike warm-up games Solomons will be restricted to 23-man squads and is aiming to use all his fit senior players over the next two weeks.

“It’s the first game of the season and I think pretty much every club is using these matches as part of their preparations for the Premiership,” Solomons said.

“There will be a lot of keenness about the players wanting to get their teeth into the season after a long pre-season.

“Over the first two games pretty much most of the senior squad will be involved.

“In a friendly you can invariably have 28 to 30 players getting a hit out but this will be played under competition rules.

“There will be 23 guys but I will make sure that everyone gets decent game-time.

“Sometimes it is not possible if you have got five players in a particular position like tighthead prop.

“But there are other games so I will look at what I can do.”