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CHRIS Horsman and Netani Talei will be given the chance to make their cases for a place in Worcester Warriors' European Challenge Cup final team.

The pair are both expected to get the nod from director of rugby Mike Ruddock for Saturday's last Guinness Premiership match of the season against Newcastle Falcons at Sixways.

Prop Horsman has been plagued by injuries over the past two seasons but came on as a replacement for Tevita Taumoepeau during last weekend's 22-21 victory at Bristol, while Fijian back-rower Talei has been struggling with an ankle problem.

Ruddock's starting XV for the Bath showdown on May 25 is likely to be largely mirrored against the Kingston Park visitors but he wants to ensure he has all his options covered for the cup final.

"I think you'll see one or two players starting that I just need to see before I sit down and finalise my selection for Kingsholm," he said.

"Tevita has been absolutely fantastic for us all season and he's very much in pole position to start in the final but if I don't start Chris now I'll never know whether he could do any better.

"If Tevita went down with a virus or something it's nice to know that Chris would have had a game under his belt before he would be expected to play in the final.

"If I don't look at starting Netani now then he's not really going to come into the mix for the final.

"He's got to prove to me that he's over his injuries and he can start the game.

"He must play a match at that intensity and not just come off the bench to give him any chance of being in the selection mix."

8:15am Thursday 8th May 2008

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