Dean Ryan admits he is eager to see his players develop in the Aviva Premiership as Warriors look to establish themselves as a top-flight club.
Ryan’s troops sealed their promotion from the Championship in dramatic style at the end of May, with Chris Pennell’s last-gasp try and Ryan Lamb’s nerveless conversion sealing a 30-30 draw against Bristol and a 59-58 aggregate win.
And after a season that saw Ryan blood his youngsters and recruit wisely by bringing in the likes of Cooper Vuna, Phil Dowson and Bryce Heem, Warriors are ready for the return to the big time.
He said: “So many of our players are desperate to prove that they can compete at this level and now they have got to go and find out. But we are excited about it and we want to find out.
“We are not going to shy away from it. So many of the lads we have recruited are desperate to show that they are capable.”
After hosting Northampton, Ryan’s men then face Sale Sharks and Gloucester Rugby in the opening three rounds of the league.
And with youngsters like Max Stelling and Ben Howard catching the eye in Warriors' run to the Championship title, the boss is confident his side return to the Premiership a much improved force.
He added: “Nobody wants to leave the Premiership but sometimes it gives you an opportunity to kick-on.
“It takes you in a different direction and we had a lot of young guys that could not get games at Premiership sides that have developed over the last eight or nine months.
“And now they are in much better shape to come back and show what they can do at the top table.”