the dust settles next May.

But are things really as clear cut as all that? Results from the opening weekend’s fixtures might suggest not. Leeds Carnegie played out a creditable draw with Newcastle and, if reports of the game are to be believed, finished the stronger of the two sides.

As expected, Leeds made an immediate return to top flight rugby following relegation from the Premiership in 2008 and in the close season have strengthened their squad significantly. Under Director of Rugby Andy Key and Head Coach Neil Back, the Headingley club has completed the celebrated signings of Scarlets fly half Ceiron Thomas, half back partner Andy Gommersall and, perhaps most notably, snatched the former Leicester Tigers and Fiji international winger Seru Rabeni from under the noses of our friends down the road.

Preparations for the season have not been helped by “visa complications” which meant props Fosi Pala'amo and former Sixways favourite Mike MacDonald would miss the start of the season - indeed, at the time of writing this piece it remains unclear whether they will be available for Friday’s game – however the old Tigers connection has eased thesituation somewhat with the loan signing of another former Worcester prop, Alex Moreno from Calvisano.

Premiership experience and quality can be found throughout the Carnegie side. England international Henry Paul together with Jons Goodridge and Pendlebury will require little introduction having plied their trade a few miles down the M5. Finally, it will be welcome back to lock Phil Murphy who gave four years sterling service for the Warriors.

It is clear that Worcester will be in for a tough game. It would be foolish to think any side coached by the legend that is Neil Back would be a soft touch and we can certainly expect Leeds to be a well drilled and canny set up.

Warriors own start to the season was also a lot more positive than many observers would have predicted. Opening up a 17 point lead at Northampton was hardly the form of whipping boys and, while the lead was eventually overturned by the Saints, the game offered a great deal more promise for the season than the recent encounters with Ulster and Newport might have suggested. The performance of the back row was as good as any I have seen from a Worcester side; the front three soon settled to the task and were the equal of their opponents and there were even some real moments of attacking promise in the backs. The home grown academy graduates are really starting to have an influence on the outcome of games and the young centre partnership of Grove and King looked comfortable against their significantly more experienced opposite numbers.

Leeds have probably had the better of recent results between the two sides and the likely outcome of Friday’s game is too close to call. Victory for either side would undoubtedly be a great confidence booster but defeat, while worrying, would be far from fatal.

I’m looking forward to a real battle on the field and to the famed Sixways Friday night atmosphere in the stands.

See you there.

Veston Pants

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