GAME-BREAKING scrum-half Francois Hougaard has returned to the fold as Worcester Warriors aim to secure a home quarter-final in the European Challenge Cup.

The South African star was rested last weekend as Warriors clinched their place in the knockout stages for the first time in a decade with a 20-18 victory at Ospreys.

But Hougaard now looks set to come back into a side who may need a bonus-point victory over Stade Francais at Sixways on Saturday (1pm) to ensure Pool Two leaders Worcester host a last-eight tie.

“Francois has been training with us for the full week so he is available for selection,” head coach Rory Duncan said.

“We have not finalised selection yet. But he is certainly under consideration.”

On Warriors’ selection plans, Duncan continued: “You can imagine that there will be quite a few more guys who will come in and join up with us.”

Hougaard has become an influential figure at Warriors since his arrival in February 2016, helping to retain the club’s Gallagher Premiership status for three seasons.

The 30-year-old has struggled at times to produce his best but Duncan said the "versatile" back had still put in some “really stand-out” performances.

“Francois is a player who has had a number of Tests for South Africa, both at nine and on the wing,” Duncan said.

“What he does is he offers the team versatility.

“It is quite nice going into a game knowing that you could shift him to outside back if we have to.

“It has been great to work with a player of his calibre this season.

“Francois is capable of breaking a game for you.

"He has had a number of games this season that really stand out where he got some really good line breaks and put guys away.

“He is a quality player and I have been very happy working with him this season.”

Duncan felt Hougaard, who called time on his international career last summer, also benefitted from having a full pre-season under his belt at Sixways.

“He gets on really well with Johan (Pretorious), our conditioning coach, and I know they have worked really hard on getting him into top shape,” Duncan said.

But Duncan has also been “very impressed” with experienced number nine Jonny Arr who starred in the win over Ospreys.

The 30-year-old scored the opening try and provided the assist for Dean Hammond to touch down in the second half.

“Jonny managed the game really well — that’s one of his strong points,” Duncan said.

“It was obviously vital for us to be able to stay in that kicking game against Ospreys.

“We needed to keep a cool head and make good decisions when to counter and when to stay in the kicking game and Jonny certainly did that role for us.

“Since he has come back and got a little bit more game-time I have been really impressed with him.”

On the competition at scrum-half, Duncan added: “I believe we have got four really capable scrum-halves and a guy like Callum (Morris) waiting in the wings.

“I have confidence in playing any one of those guys in our games.”