Brian Ashton is braced for another fraught weekend as injuries continue to play havoc with England's RBS 6 Nations campaign.

Although the tournament does not resume until next Saturday, there is no sign of an England injury curse being lifted.

Steve Borthwick, who captained England to a narrow victory over Italy in Rome last Sunday, has become the latest victim.

The Bath lock misses his club's Guinness Premiership appointment with Wasps tomorrow as he battles to recover from a knee injury suffered at Stadio Flaminio.

Borthwick was ruled out after failing a fitness test, although it is unclear at this stage what his prospects are of recovering in time to face tournament favourites France next Saturday night.

And although Wasps prop Phil Vickery, whose place as skipper Borthwick took, has recovered from a stomach bug to pack down at the Recreation Ground, wing Paul Sackey and scrum-half Andy Gomarsall have also reported knocks.

Wasps speedster Sackey faces fitness checks on a thumb problem before his participation tomorrow can be confirmed, while Gomarsall sits out Harlequins' game against Worcester due to a back spasm.

England's Six Nations season has three Tests to run, but injured trio Mike Tindall, David Strettle and Tom Rees have already been written off, with Leicester flanker Lewis Moody still sidelined because of an Achilles' tendon trouble,

Sale Sharks prop Andrew Sheridan, meanwhile, missed the Italy clash due to an infected cut on his heel, and he won't be involved for his club against Leeds Carnegie tonight.

Vickery's fitness apart though, Ashton will be comforted by the return of Wasps flanker Joe Worsley from a neck injury this weekend.

On the field, Wasps must end Bath's 13-game unbeaten Premiership home record to revive fading title play-off hopes. Wasps, already knocked out of Europe, are 12 points off the top-four pace.

Forwards coach Leon Holden said: "This is a very important game for us in terms of climbing up the league table, and a massive challenge considering Bath's 100% home record in the Premiership.

"They will be up for protecting that record and cementing their place in the top four, so we are under no illusion that we will have to deliver a first-class performance to get a result."

Worcester could climb further away from relegation favourites Leeds if they beat Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop tomorrow, but rugby director Mike Ruddock knows the Warriors cannot afford a repeat of last weekend's lacklustre display against Saracens.

Ruddock said: "We didn't play to our standard at Saracens, and we are looking for a reaction.

"We felt we were making progress week-to-week, but ultimately we let ourselves down last time out and we need to put it right.

"They (Quins) were very physical when they came to Sixways (in December) and looked to bully us up-front.

"We need to go there and return the favour. We have been to The Stoop and won this season in the EDF Energy Cup, and that means we can go back and be confident about getting a result."

Premiership champions Leicester will move top of the table if they beat Madejski Stadium hosts London Irish on Sunday and current leaders Gloucester come unstuck at west country rivals Bristol.

The Tigers are beginning to roar in pursuit of a successful title defence, having reeled off four successive Premiership victories since Christmas.

And skipper Martin Corry will demand more of the same commitment and quality that underpinned last weekend's 20-13 win at Gloucester.

Corry said: "When Willie Walker chipped through, it looked for all the money as though James Simpson-Daniel was under the posts and Gloucester were going to snatch a draw.

"But then Christophe (Laussucq), Aaron (Mauger), Ayoola (Erinle) and Johne (Murphy) got back from nowhere and held him up, and I think, if you are looking for moments to give everyone a lift, then it was that instance.

"I look at the way they scrambled back and prevented that try as almost more important than scoring tries in the first place.

"Kingsholm is a fantastic place to play, and to go down there and get a result means so much to us as a team."

Gloucester have former Italian captain Marco Bortolami back in their line-up against Bristol after his recovery from a fractured eye socket, while England trio Iain Balshaw, Lesley Vainikolo and Luke Narraway also start.

Newcastle, meanwhile, include their quartet of England backs - Jonny Wilkinson, Toby Flood, Jamie Noon and Mathew Tait - for the Kingston Park clash against Saracens on Sunday.

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