FULL-BACK Chris Pennell could return after injury for Worcester Warriors’ Greene King IPA Championship play-off final first leg against Bristol at Ashton Gate next week.

Pennell suffered a knee injury against the same club last month and Warriors’ director of rugby Dean Ryan said the England player was the “closest” of the club’s sidelined players to making a return.

Warriors will face Bristol in the first leg on Wednesday, May 20, before hosting Andy Robinson’s men in the second leg at Sixways on Wednesday, May 27 (both 7.45pm).

Bristol advanced to the final after beating Rotherham Titans 24-16 yesterday to secure a 20-point aggregate margin over the two legs.

The urgency for Worcester to get Pennell fit for the final intensified after Ben Howard was taken off with a head injury in their 38-15 play-off semi-final second leg win over London Scottish.

Cooper Vuna and Ryan Mills slotted in at full-back, while another versatile back, Dean Hammond, picked up a thigh strain in the match.

Ryan said: “This particular window should give us some time to have a look at Penns (Chris Pennell) especially because he’s probably the closest to a return.

“We haven’t got anyone else to play at full-back so we need Penns to come in now. Not playing in the next week gives us a bit of breathing space to do that.”

Centres Max Stelling (hamstring) and Andy Symons (leg) are both on the treatment table.

Scrum-halves Charlie Mulchrone (broken foot) and Jonny Arr (suspended) have been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Ryan said: “The play-offs are an examination of a rugby club.

“I don’t think we have got everyone left to examine in the backs but we have tried every scenario and every different thing.

“But if it is going to be the test of the rugby club, then I am pretty happy with us — the way we have gone during the year and the way we’ve kept the group. We had 10 guys in blazers in the changing room waiting for their go.

“We had another injury — we lost Howard after a minute. That’s the third week in a row when we’ve lost someone in the opening minutes and all in the back three.

“We had two injuries in the back three and ended up with Mills back there. At the end of it, once we worked out a few bumps in the road, we looked composed.

“We had a six-day turnaround, which we thought would work to our advantage, but suddenly it stripped us bare.

“I am pleased we’re through now and we can see if we can get people back on their feet and ready for the next contest because I am sure something else will happen.”