Worcester are one of those cussed, dogged, annoyingly in-yer-face teams that you really don't enjoy coming up against. Promoted to the Premiership for the 2004/5 season, they've succeeded where other teams have failed, making their elevation to the top-flight stick and avoiding the yo-yo-ing that has afflicted the Leeds, Bristols and Rotherhams of the world. For that, they owe much to benefactor Cecil Duckworth, inventor of the combi-boiler. It seems apt, and this is in no way meant disparagingly, that whereas some clubs' owners owe their fortune to pop music, high finance or technology, Worcester's owner made his mint in plumbery. Down to earth, no frills, what you see is what you get – that's Worcester.

In this, they are epitomised by their ferociously competitive (and combative) captain Pat Sanderson, one of the grizzled old veterans of the Premiership. He's an openside flanker in the Paul Volley mould, one of those men who, instead than taking a backward step, would rather turn the earth round so that they're facing the right way. You come around to his way of thinking, or you remain in the wrong. I seem to remember he and Lawrence having some interesting encounters over the years!

Also in the Worcester pack is arch lineout operator Craig Gillies, no doubt delighted that the ELV allowing different numbers in the lineout has been kicked into the long grass. Whereas last year teams were able to nullify (to a certain extent) Gillies' effectiveness by packing the lineout with jumping options, this year expect him to be back to his poaching best. Rob Webber and co, look out.

Look out, also, for the Worcester scrum. In the first week they had Northampton in all sorts of trouble (as did their aggressive defence, Saints dominating possession but only winning with a last minute Paul Diggin try). Given our travails at the scrum in the first two games, this is undoubtedly an area that Worcester will look to target.

In the backs, Worcester have quality players in former Australia full-back Chris Latham, wings Miles Benjamin and Marcel Garvey, and up-and-coming Scottish centre Alex Grove. With Willy Walker organising from fly-half and kicking goals for fun, you underestimate Worcester at your peril (underestimation being a peril that has afflicted Wasps memorably down the years – West Hartlepool, anyone? Pertemps Bees?).

Wasps have made a solid start to the season, claiming good wins against Harlequins and Bath. Three tries in each game signals a vast improvement over our frequently blunt attack last term, but a failure to score any points in the second half down at the Rec acts as a reminder that there's plenty of work still to do. Nevertheless, the form of Joe Simpson, Tom Varndell and co can't help but infect even the most pessimistic supporter (which is what I am) with a sense of optimism.

Worcester's narrow defeat in the first week was followed by a twenty point victory over Leeds last Friday. This early in the season, it's still difficult to know how much you can read into results, but it certainly doesn't look as though Worcester are going to be the whipping boys that many predicted. If history means anything at all, Wasps certainly won't find them that way.

I'm tempted to predict an opposition win, given that it seemed to work against Bath last week, but home advantage and that new found precision in attack points to a Wasps win: victory by 7

KEY MEN

Wasps: Rob Webber – accurate throwing in the lineout and improved scrummaging are a must against Worcester's set-piece.

Worcester: Pat Sanderson – leads from the front, annoys the hell out of the opposition, and with the new interpretations at the ruck is in prime position to fight for turnover ball.

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