Boss Richard Hill believes playing Stade Francais on home soil in the opening game of the Amlin Challenge Cup could be crucial to the Warriors making progress in the European competition.
Worcester face the French outfit at Sixways tonight (kick-off 7.45pm) and Hill acknowledges his team will need to produce a top class performance.
However, he is hoping a partisan home crowd can also put the Paris based giants out of their stride as Warriors look to make a winning return to Europe.
“We are taking it very seriously and this is a fantastic game for us,” said Hill. “Not only because it is Stade Francais, but because we can really work on our attack and spend two weeks to really be constructive.
“If we can get off to a great start and beat Stade then we have a great chance of going through this group. This is a serious competition and we are really going for this.
“There is some good and bad in France,” smiled Hill, who coached in the French lower leagues before making the move to Sixways.
“They can be very physical and know all the tricks in the unseen clinches on the rucks, mauls and scrum. It will be physical and our pack of forwards will have to stand up to what Stade throw at us.
“There are not that many Frenchmen in the Stade team, but they still take on the typical mentality of a French team.
“They are not very good at travelling away from home and have lost games against Lyon and Agen this year in the Top 14, neither of those are fancied teams.
“We hope to take advantage of that and get a big crowd in and really upset them. If you can get on top and score early then heads can go. We need to test them and if they want it or not.”
Don’t miss Stade at Sixways! Tickets remain on sale today and right up until kick-off from the Warriors Box Office. Call 01905 454183 or visit in person today and take your seat for all the top class European rugby!