The Championship
Venue: Memorial Stadium Date: Sunday, 2 January Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio Bristol (1548 MW & DAB)

Paul Hull's Bristol are eighth in the Championship, 45 points off Worcester

Bristol will be at full strength when they host league leaders Worcester at the Memorial Stadium on Sunday.

Adrian Jarvis and Sean Marsden are back after bouts of flu forced them to miss the 39-22 Boxing Day loss at Bedford.

And head coach Paul Hull is minimising the impact of ex-boss Richard Hill's return, along with three ex-players.

"You've got to go in with a positive outlook. Yes they're top of the league, but most teams know they're beatable," Hull told BBC Radio Bristol.

"This is a tough period for us, with Bedford followed by Worcester, but I was really pleased with the first-half performance against Bedford.

"We started so well after some disruption with those two players pulling out on the morning of the match and we didn't have the opportunity to train as a team.

"Obviously we had a spell of 20 minutes when we were down to 14 men which ultimately lost us the game."

But that outing against second-placed Bedford and a break in the weather that allowed for full training has set them up for the challenge of the Warriors, who have three former Bristol players Tom Arscott, Rob Higgitt and Alex Crockett, as well as coach Hill, in their ranks.

"They've had some tough games and lost at home to Cornish Pirates," said Hull. "That shows how hard this league is because they're a Premiership outfit and not many players left them when they went down.

Eighth place in the table isn't a true reflection of Bristol's quality - they just lack a bit of a cutting edge and have had a lot of bad luck Worcester head coach Richard Hill

"Everyone talks about that Pirates game, but they also only beat Doncaster with the last kick of the game," added Hull, who took over at the Bristol helm from Hill in February 2009.

"Richard has been back to watch us before. You get these returns to an old stomping ground but we're just focusing on trying to do a job and won't be focusing too much on Worcester.

"We're focusing on what we can do. We'll make sure we can put some pressure on them, nullify their strengths and impose our game on Worcester."

Hill told BBC Radio Bristol: "Being at Bristol was a big part of my coaching career, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

"I know Paul and all the coaches very well, they're putting in the hard work and will have the team revved up on Sunday.

"Apart from Worcester, Bristol are the only other truly Premiership club in the Championship who can raise their game on the big occasion and we'll be aware of that on Sunday.

"It will be a tough game and when we played them at Sixways it was probably our most physical match this season.

"Eighth place in the table isn't a true reflection of the quality in their side. Some of their play is outstanding.

"Their physicality's good and their skill levels are good. They just lack a bit of a cutting edge and have had a lot of bad luck. They're the unluckiest team in the Championship."

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