STEVE Diamond has already informed a number of players that their time at Worcester will come to an end at the conclusion of the 2021/22 campaign as he begins to shape his side for seasons to come.

Over the coming weeks, the soon to be director of rugby will give players an opportunity to prove to him that they are worthy of being kept on at the club but says he will not hesitate to make difficult decisions.

"Over the next month everybody will be informed who is staying and who is going and then we will start the recruitment drive," said Diamond.

"I’m not going to be ruthless with it, it’s going to be fair. Everybody is going to be given the opportunity to play and show their wares.

"Four or five of those decisions have been made already and the people who will be leaving have promised me that they will be very diligent and work as hard as they possibly can until we pass them on to their next journey in life.

"There are some great players here but there are some who haven’t fulfilled their potential. Over the last two weeks and over the next three or four weeks they will be given that opportunity.

"If, luckily, they take it, then brilliant. If they don’t, we will make decisions on those people.

"The way to stay in the team is do as we ask you to do, stick to the gameplan.

"It’s who can fit into that plan on a regular basis. If you can, great, there’s a career for you."

Diamond has publicly stated that he wants to bolster his front-five options as he sees it as an area which needs some added bulk.

There have already been rumours that he is going to raid his former club Sale Sharks, who Worcester play this weekend, to find that added power and grunt up front.

The Du Preez twins, Daniel and Jean-Luc, have both been mentioned as players Diamond may look to recruit to Sixways.

Hooker Akker van der Merwe, brother of Warriors' winger Duhan, is another name that has been floated in varying reports and back-row forward Cameron Nield is also a players much liked by Worcester's new man in charge.

But he has so far denied all knowledge of such rumours.

He will have a great chance to watch any players he may harbour ambitions of bringing to Worcester when Warriors make the trip to Salford to face Sale on Saturday afternoon.