MATCH DETAILS Worcester: (14) 21 Tries: Powell, Rasmussen, Hickey Cons: Brown 2, Hayes Northampton: (13) 19 Try: Diggin Cons: Drahm Pens: Drahm 3, Grayson

The lead changed hands many times on a fraught afternoon and both teams at different times were in bottom spot.

Drew Hickey's try on 75 minutes sealed the win, following earlier tries from Matt Powell and Dale Rasmussen.

Saints fly-half Shane Drahm, who joins Worcester next season, did his best to relegate his new team with 11 points.

He was confirmed in Northampton's starting line-up just an hour before kick-off, having originally been named on the bench behind veteran England international Paul Grayson.

But Drahm went on to boot three penalties and converted wing Paul Diggin's first-half try.

I was glad to come off and hear the Quins result, but I feel very sorry for those guys - it is people's livelihoods Shane Drahm

His presence gave a red-hot relegation battle added spice and the lead changed hands often.

Saints' blindside defence fell asleep to allow sniping Powell a try that Brown converted for a tense 7-6 lead after 20 minutes.

The lead though, lasted barely seven minutes as full-back Bruce Reihana, whose pace and superbly-delivered pass sent England Under-21 wing Diggin dashing over.

Drahm compounded Warriors' misery by converting from the touchline, but Worcester weathered the storm and ultimately set up Hickey's winning try.

Afterwards, Drahm expressed relief that neither present club Northampton nor his future side Worcester were relegated.

"I am gutted that we lost, and was glad to come off and hear the Quins result, but I feel very sorry for those guys - it is people's livelihoods," he said.

"The first year in the Premiership is the hardest and Worcester have done a fantastic job just to stay in it.

"I wanted to play today and Northampton wanted me to play as well."

Worcester can now look forward to a wildcard play-off clash against Saracens next Friday night, and if they win the wildcard final at Twickenham on 14 May, they will secure Heineken Cup qualification next season.

We will probably be signing nine or 10 players for next season Warriors' director of rugby John Brain

"We told the half-time score at Quins, and they went out for the second half in possession of the facts," said Worcester rugby director John Brain.

"We will probably be signing nine or 10 players for next season, when our objective will be qualifying for the Heineken cup. I don't think we have a difficult job selling this club."

Worcester: Delport, Pieters, Rasmussen, Lombard, Hinshelwood, Brown, Powell, Windo, van Niekerk, Lyman, Murphy, Gillies, Vaili, Sanderson, Hickey.
Replacements: Sparks, Daly, Blaze, Mason, Cole, Hayes, O'Leary.

Northampton: Reihana, Rudd, Cohen, Stcherbina, Diggin, Drahm, Fulton, Smith, Thompson, Sturgess, Boome, Lord, Fox, Krige, Blowers.
Replacements: Richmond, Emms, Browne, Soden, Howard, Myring, Grayson.