WARRIORS back row Matt Cox believes the club’s pre-season fixtures will stand them in good stead to challenge the best in the Aviva Premiership.
The 27-year-old flanker insists the squad can build on last season’s finish, which saw the Sixways outfit win five out of six games in February and March, if they can get the first win under their belts as soon as possible.
The Redditch-born player has set his sights on playing as much first team rugby as possible.
“I’ve enjoyed a break in Thailand with Joe Rees and Luke Baldwin and now I’m raring to go again,” said Cox.
“It’s been a tough five weeks of training but I’m enjoying it as it makes us stronger and fitter. I’m feeling 100 per cent and want to play as much rugby as my body allows me.
“I’m ready for the high altitude training in France, although I prefer the training camp we had in Portugal as you could head straight to the beach after training. The Alps is a bit more remote but it’ll benefit us.
“We want to be pushing ourselves going into the new campaign and I think the tests we’ve got ahead of us will help prepare us for that.
“We all want to play on the big stage at Twickenham (against Saracens, September 3) and we all believe we can build on our finish last year.
“Hopefully, the first win under our belt will be the catalyst to push on up the table and finish in a higher position than last year,” he added.
The all-action back row, who was a product of the club’s academy, also said he has relished working under head coach Carl Hogg.
“I’ve really enjoyed working under Hogg and as a forward I’ve worked a lot with him.
“He always has a lot of input in training and I know him very well from our time at Gloucester together, so we have a very good relationship.”