BBC Sportrugbyunion

Director of rugby: Mike Ruddock
Captain: Pat Sanderson
Ground: Sixways (12,068 capacity)
Last season: GP - 10th ECC - Runners-up
England elite squad players: 0

Worcester aim to avoid a similar start to last year's campaign, which saw them wait until January to claim their first victory after a run of nine losses and a draw.

Former Wales coach Mike Ruddock says he has learned a lot from his first season in the Premiership and the signing of the wonderfully gifted former Australia full-back Chris Latham (left) is a major boost.

He should add defensive stability and attacking flair to a backline already including ex-All Black Rico Gear and last-season's top try-scorer Miles Benjamin, but the Warriors will still need their traditional cussedness up front to prosper.

"It would be nice to get a good start. The last two years we have had poor starts and obviously we have paid for that with lowly league positions at the turn of the year. We feel we now have the sort of balance that starts to give us an opportunity to get the results we crave."
Director of rugby Mike Ruddock