EXPERIENCED scrum half Jonny Arr has insisted Greene King IPA Championship promotion is well within Warriors’ capabilities despite losing twice to Bristol this season.
Worcester’s promotion rivals clinched top spot with a 30-26 victory at Sixways on Saturday, which saw them claw themselves back from 23-10 down.
The agonising defeat is likely leave some fans fearing the worst as their side also lost to Bristol at Ashton Gate on the opening day of the season.
However, Worcester-born Arr told The Observer he remained optimistic as he knows more than most the challenge the play-offs present.
“I don’t think there is anything to be concerned about,” he said. “The defeat was pretty tough to swallow, but ultimately that’s phase one done, so let’s move on to the next where it all starts again.”
Arr, Chris Pennell and Alex Grove are the only surviving members of Worcester’s promotion winning squad of 2011.
That season saw the Sixways side finish top of the pile, but the play offs still did not run smoothly as Warriors needed a last-gasp Kai Horstmann try saw them defeat Bedford Blues in the semi-final.
And Arr believes Worcester and Bristol will once again have their work cut out against London Scottish and Rotherham respectively.
“Scottish caused us a few problems away from home last time, so our next focus will be formulating a game plan to go there and get a victory,” he said.
“When we look back at the final in 2011 we went to Cornish Pirates and came away with a nine-point lead and then built on that at home, so we have got to replicate that.”
Bristol lost in the play-off final in 2014 and 2010 and Arr believed their opponents’ past failings were something Worcester could capitalise on.
“We are a more than confident that we have got the tools in place to go and beat Bristol twice,” he added. “There is no reason why we can’t.
“Obviously they have got a few demons in the backs of their minds with regards to previous seasons in the play-offs, so as far as I am concerned it is still up for grabs.”