Utility back Calum MacRae has voiced his excitement about his potential Worcester Warriors comeback in Spain in the Amlin Challenge Cup this weekend.
MacRae joined Warriors on a one-year deal in the summer but was ruled out of the start of the season after breaking his thumb against Ulster Rugby in August.
The 29-year-old has now been penciled in for a return to action by Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock in the Euro clash with Olympus Rugby XV Madrid on Saturday (kick-off 4.30pm local time).
And MacRae is keen to take any chance to show his worth and stake a regular first team claim.
“It’s good to be back and available,” said MacRae. I’ve been injured before and you have to make sure you do not dwell on it and remain positive that is what I have done.
“After you get over the initial disappointment of missing six weeks you look to work on whatever you can, such as your skills and fitness, to make sure when you get back it is on the front foot.
“This weekend, if selected, I want to make sure I put down a marker for the jersey and show why I should be featuring.”
Warriors are this week preparing for a rare trip to Spanish soil to play against Olympus Rugby XV Madrid on the back of the defeat to Montpellier.
Madrid are new to the Amlin Challenge Cup this season and the pressure is on for the Warriors to perform – but MacRae insists the team must purely look at themselves and correct the errors of last week.
He said: “Obviously the Madrid game is a big one for the team; we want to do well in this competition and what happened against Montpellier has only increased that desire.
“The main focus has got to be on ourselves and not on Olympus Rugby XV Madrid. We need to rectify the issues from Montpellier and we will be working hard on that all week.
“We are starting to build up to the Harlequins game at home; that will be in the back of the mind of the players selected in Spain, to step up and take the chance to impress.”