Worcester Warriors are hopeful they will be able to stage Saturday's European Challenge Cup group match with Olympus Madrid at Sixways.

Warriors general manager Charlie Little said: "Things have been changing by the hour but it has always been our intention to stage the game at Sixways.

"Underneath the snowfall the vast majority of the pitch is playable due to the higher temperatures."

Warriors, who cannot qualify, forfeit the points if the game does not happen.

Over 100 tonnes of snow has already been removed from the stadium, with work underway on surrounding areas to make sure they are safe for supporters.

Little told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "It is important we make the decision now to play the game at Sixways on Saturday as Madrid are set to travel over from Spain on booked flights.

"This will also allow our supporters to make travel arrangements.

Whilst the pitch is not playable at the moment further improvement at the same rate will make it playable by match day Worcester Warriors general manager Charlie Little

"As part of our participation agreement with ERC, every effort must be made to play the game at Sixways on the designated date and our confidence is growing by the day that this will be achieved."

Club officials say the next 48 hours should see the snow around the site thaw and disperse while grass is already appearing through the snow on the pitch as temperatures rise.

Little said: "We now plan to concentrate all our efforts in drawing the frost out of areas that forced the recent game with London Irish game to be postponed.

"Local referee Chris White was at the club on Thursday and commented on the noticeable improvement since last weekend.

"Whilst the pitch is not playable at the moment further improvement at the same rate will make it playable by match day."

This game will be very important for us," director of rugby Mike Ruddock said.

"We don't want weeks and weeks going by without rugby.

"We have had a couple of A games called off, and despite the best efforts of our groundstaff the London Irish game was called off as well.

We want get out there and perform and we will be banging the drum all week that we want to win and win well Mike Ruddock

"The boys have trained hard indoors, but after all that hard work we want to get out there and play."

But if the game does go ahead, Ruddock said he will be fielding a strong side.

"It will be a bit of a mixture, and some guys we had hoped to rest may be involved after all," said Ruddock.

"Ryan Powell will start at number nine as he's been out for a few weeks, Matthew Jones has been out with a foot injury so he will start.

"Chris Pennell and Matt Mullan will start, Marcel Garvey will have a good chance to show he is worthy of his new contact.

"Alex Grove will be in the side and Craig Gillies will probably start as well, so it will be a strong side.

"We want get out there and perform and we will be banging the drum all week that we want to win and win well."

If the game goes ahead, there will be full commentary on 738 AM and online from 1500 GMT.

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