DIRECTOR of rugby Alan Solomons insisted he was not prepared to rush injured centre Francois Venter back.

The centre who featured heavily last season has picked up a calf problem and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.

There is a possibility Venter could play a part in Warriors’ Premiership Cup campaign that runs for the next four weeks, starting with a home clash with Leicester Tigers on Saturday.

But Solomons said he would take the “conservative route” with Venter to ensure he would be fit and firing for the Gallagher Premiership which kicks off on October 19.

“Francois has a calf injury,” Solomons said.

“We are bringing him back, but we will be cautious with him as I want him to have a full season. We are not going to rush him back.

“But it is nothing that I believe is major.”

Venter, 28, made 24 appearances, scoring three tries, in an impressive first season in blue and gold.

“He had (an issue with his calf) at the beginning (of pre-season), it then went away but then came back,” Solomons explained.

“What we have done is let it sort itself out so we will take our time and get the calf right.

“We are going to take a conservative route and make sure he is 100 per cent right for the whole season.”