DIRECTOR of rugby Dean Ryan has urged his players to prove they have what it takes to avoid relegation when Worcester Warriors host London Wasps tonight (Friday, 7.45pm).
A run of 16 straight defeats in the Aviva Premiership has left Warriors 11 points adrift of safety, with just six games remaining.
Having missed out on opportunities to chalk up their first win of the season with dismal showings against London Irish and Sale Sharks, the writing appears to be on the wall for Worcester.
But Ryan believes the threat of relegation should give his players enough impetus to secure that elusive victory against Wasps.
“We are frustrated that on those opportunities to go and enforce ourselves we haven’t been able to,” he said. “We haven’t been able to identify why we have underperformed when we are expected to win.
“But we are doing everything we can to give ourselves the best chance to take that opportunity. I am as optimistic as I can be that we will get a performance and we will beat Wasps on Friday.
“But they become hollow words if we can’t get that level of intensity right on the night, so the players need to prove it.”
Warriors have been boosted by the return of Scotland international Euan Murray, while Josh Drauniniu replaces Dean Hammond, who sustained a torn hamstring against Quins.
Ryan also believes a win over Wasps would be the perfect catalyst going into their crunch clash with Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park next week.
“We know we will be staring down at relegation if we don’t win at Newcastle and winning against Wasps is the key to being successful at Kingston Park,” he said.
“The dynamics of that game will change if we get a win under our belt and that’s what we are focusing on.
“We have obviously missed a few opportunities, but if we can get this one we will arrive at Newcastle with just a slight swing in the pressure.”
Warriors’ side to face London Wasps: Pennell, Drauniniu, Grove, Fatiaki, Lemi, Lamb, Arr, Fainga’anuku, Creevy, Murray, Percival, Galarza, Williams, Betty, Thomas (C)
Replacements: Shervington, Andrew, O’Donnell, Taulava, de Carpentier, Hodgson, Mieres, Symons