WORCESTER Warriors will aim to head into the upcoming British and Irish Cup semi-final against Leinster A, on the back of a league victory against Plymouth this weekend.
The Championship side welcomes the Irish team on Friday, March 13 to the Sixways Stadium, with the winner hosting the final on the first weekend of April.
Meanwhile, Doncaster face Worcester's Championship rivals Bristol in the other semi-final.
Worcester go into the tie against the defending champions having won all six of their qualifying group games in Pool Three against Moseley, Munster A and Nottingham.
Speaking to The Irish Post, recently appointed Chief Executive of Worcester Warriors, Jim O’Toole, rated the visiting side highly. “What I like about Leinster is, first of all, they will have players in that A league semi-final who will, within three years, be playing for Ireland,” he said.
“They are, unlike some teams in the British and Irish Cup who have used it as a platform to bring back senior players and give them game time, like us, and use it as an absolutely developmental thing.
“So, we're taking it very seriously, it's a semi-final, it's a chance to win something. I know that from my time in London Irish that the Irish boys who played for Leinster and who won that competition, Conor Gilsenan, and the other boys, took it very seriously. And we're very proud of it.”
Before this, however, Worcester must play bottom-placed Plymouth Albion in the Championship on Saturday (tomorrow).
New signings Cooper Vuna and Sam Lewis are set to make their debut, and will be two of eight changes to the starting line-up that came from behind to beat Bedford Blues 32-17 in the last round.
Whilst Worcester currently top the table – second-placed Bristol will be league leaders if they beat Nottingham in tonight’s fixture – and O’Toole admits that his side will head into tomorrow’s Championship tie with confidence, he reflects on the challenges that Plymouth have faced in their season so far.
“Plymouth have had a very tough time this year, they petered on the brink a month or two ago, as members of the championship we were concerned for them, we did what we could to help them,” he added.
“So, tomorrow for example, we gave them 500 tickets to the game free for them to sell to their supporters and if they make a few bob on it then great. On paper we're a better team and you would expect to win, but it's a funny old game sometimes, we go into it with confidence.”
Warriors side to face Plymouth:
15 Chris Pennell, 14 Ben Howard, 13 Max Stelling, 12 Andy Symons, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Ryan Mills, 9 Charlie Mulchrone, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin, 2 Agustin Creevy, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Mike Williams, 5 Jonathan Thomas, 6 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Sam Lewis, 8 GJ van Velze (C)
Replacements:
16 Niall Annett, 17 Mike Daniels, 18 Darren O'Shea, 19 Matt Cox, 20 Jonny Arr, 21 Ignacio Mieres, 22 Sam Smith
