Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock insists his Worcester Warriors know they ‘have to deliver’ as they prepare for the crucial Guinness Premiership clash with Leeds Carnegie at Headingley on Sunday (kick-off 3pm).
Worcester know they must gain a positive result from the league encounter after Leeds secured victory over London Irish on Sunday afternoon.
And Ruddock is predicting a ‘full on battle’ in the north of England with big points up for grabs in the race for top-flight survival.
“Leeds are a very well organised team, they have done very well and we respect them. They are well coached and will be very difficult on their own patch,” he said.
“But we have got to go and do a job – it is as simple as that. We have to deliver and we have to try and get control of that game and stamp our authority on it.
“We believe we have got the tools and Leeds will think the same thing. It will be a hell of a game and a full on battle.
“We have just gone toe-to-toe with Wasps, one of the best teams in Europe at the moment that is hitting the peak at the right time. For 60 minutes I felt we were the better team, they had a flying start.
“The table doesn’t lie, but I honestly believe we have been so close to so many teams. Overall the team has tried its hardest and its best, we have pushed some of the better teams like Wasps as far as we could and, in the end, we have just given them too much of a start.”