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SHANE Drahm is looking to perform a dramatic U-turn and escape from his contract with Japanese side Kubota Spears to stay with Worcester Warriors next season.

I understand the in-form Aussie stand-off, who has been the catalyst for the Sixways side's revival in recent months, has ordered his agent to try and annul his deal with the Far East outfit.

Worcester have had no joy in trying to sign a replacement since 30-year-old Drahm announced he would be leaving England, primarily to be closer to family in Australia.

The club are now admitting they were hasty in allowing the former Northampton and Queensland Reds player to end his three-year Sixways stay and he is now keen to remain.

Warriors' chairman Cecil Duckworth revealed Drahm, who has represented England A' after qualifying through residency, has impressed so much in the second half of the season that he is now seen as a key player for next term.

The Sixways chief said: "We are having second thoughts about Shane leaving, so we'll have to see about that as those talks go on and develop.

"It's now up to Shane's agent, but hopefully his team in Japan wouldn't want a player who is thinking he shouldn't have gone there.

"It is delicate, but we are optimistic that we will now keep Shane and he won't be going elsewhere.

"We've got one or two alternatives with Loki Crichton and young Joey Carlisle, who is coming along.

"But we like Shane and, no doubt, when he is playing the way he is, he is as good as anyone else in the Premiership.

"He's keen to stay, but obviously he's got a contract in Japan, so we will need to have an alternative."

Duckworth added that once the fly-half position has been finalised, he doesn't envisage any other major arrivals as the Warriors academy prospects look set to play a big part next term.

He said: "We have got Chris Latham and Hal Luscombe joining us but, once we have got the number 10 sorted, we will be relying on the academy.

"There might be a few minor changes but nothing too substantial."

6:00am Thursday 15th May 2008

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