Mike Ruddock admits he is relishing his first taste of a red-hot local derby with Gloucester – and urged his Warriors to show their true potential in the televised clash (kick-off 6pm).
Warriors will be looking to record a first ever Guinness Premiership victory over the Cherry and Whites in front of the Sky cameras.
Director of Rugby Ruddock knows his players will be fired up for the crunch encounter and believes after the stunning draw with Euro champions Wasps his side is now showing real promise.
But he has warned his troops they must again raise the bar if they are to taste victory over their unbeaten local rivals.
“We have to go down there, present ourselves and put in a great performance,” he said.
“If we don’t do that, it will be difficult because of the way Gloucester are playing at the moment, if we’re not at the top of our game, then we’ve got no chance. But if we are on top of our game, it will be game on and we’ll give it a real go.
“A local derby of this magnitude usually fires up the guys, but all of our games are massively physical and intense. We are all looking forward to it and it should be a fantastic occasion.
“We showed great spirit and passion to get something out of the game with Wasps last weekend. When we looked over the video there were a lot of positives to take out of it, we saw glimpses of the future so we are on the right track. But now we have to raise it again.
Ruddock has a fit squad to pick from with only long term absentees Lee Best and Tim Collier ruled out and the Sixways supremo admits there will be changes.
“There will be a couple of changes again, we did that last week as we worked through selections and see what people can offer is,” he said.
“The people who came off the bench against Wasps, I believe put their hands up big time for selection, so I think you could see some alterations there.”