LOOSEHEAD prop Val Rapava Ruskin could return for Worcester Warriors’ vital Aviva Premiership home clash against play-off chasing Bath on Saturday (3pm).

The Gloucester-bound front-row hurt his rib in Warriors’ 40-33 defeat at Wasps and missed last Friday’s 36-26 loss at Sale Sharks.

But director of rugby Gary Gold is hoping Ruskin, who is being tipped for international honours with England, will line up against fifth-placed Bath.

“I am hoping he can come through,” said Gold, whose side are second-from-bottom in the table.

“It will be an important boost if we can get him.

“We will see how he goes. He ran OK today so we are hoping he comes through by the end of the week.”

Warriors are eight points above basement boys Bristol with just three matches remaining.

Gold insists Warriors are not safe from the drop and is expecting a stern examination from Bath, who beat Worcester 37-22 earlier in the season.

Gold had a spell at Bath, starting as head coach in May 2012 and then director of rugby before leaving in December 2013.

He believes Bath’s backline poses more threats than table-topping Wasps.

“Bath have got arguably better game breakers in their backs than Wasps,” said Gold.

“I am not saying Wasps haven’t got great game breakers but they are a different type.

“Willie Le Roux and Kurtley Beale will beat you with their feet, while Rocko (Semesa Rokoduguni) will do that and run over you and so will Banners (Matt Banahan).

“JJ (Jonathan Joseph) is on form at the moment and he’s got an outstanding outside break and poses a threat in many different ways.

“They have lots of decoy runners and JJ and George (Ford) are very good playmakers as well.

“They have lots of different threats but it will definitely come in the form of a ball-in-hand challenge and they will be moving us around the park.”

Bath recorded a 27-21 victory against fourth-placed Leicester Tigers at Twickenham last weekend after Anthony Watson’s two quick-fire tries turned the match on its head.

Bath had been on the back foot early on, going down 12-0 following two early Tigers tries, while they trailed by eight points heading into the final quarter of an hour.

But Watson finished off breaks from Taulupe Faletau and Banahan to turn things around, leaving Bath level on points in the table with Tigers.

Gold admits Warriors’ kicking game will need to be spot-on to avoid the danger of a lively Bath backline.

“If you are kicking it wrongly and kicking it badly you don't want Bath getting the ball on the half-way line with all their game breakers,” said Gold.

“You want to be smart in the way you do things and need to be prepared for where the threat comes from.

“You don’t want to feed the threat and you need to be clever because you don’t want to help Bath get into their shape.”