THERE is almost a cup final feel about Sunday's game at Orrell and I think that's how we are approaching these matches now.

We have five league games to go now until the clash with Rotherham at Sixways and it is vital that we keep on winning. There is no point getting to April 12 and not having our destiny in our hands. It is something we have control over at present and we don't intend to surrender that. We have to treat every game as a cup final and play with real intensity.

I was pleased with that at Bedford. We started the match at Goldington Road well and went on to score seven tries there. I must admit I was astonished that this was the same team we'd put 69 points on at Sixways. They were quite a transformation and gave us a real game. We were put under tremendous pressure but the great thing was that the boys held out and prevented them from scoring a try.

Late in the second half, when we were 38-9 ahead, it would have been easy for the players to not be as committed in the tackle and concede a try. That we didn't, however, shows the progress we are making. It's all about pride and being professional and to come away from Bedford having not taken a try speaks volumes for the work they have done since Rotherham.

Our pack came in for some stick that day but they have worked tremendously hard and forged a good understanding. It's no coincidence that it's been a fairly settled unit since then and I think that helps. Injury just adds to your problems and the return of players such as Gavin Pfister, Christian Evans and Neil Lyman in the front row has made a difference. The form of Tony Windo, Chris Hall and our locks Dan Zaltzman and Craig Gillies has also been very encouraging.

They all know, though, that you are only as good as your last game and with players such as Adrian Olver, Martin Morgan and Jim Jenner straining at the leash to get involved, their form has to be good.

Rotherham got back on track with a demolition of Moseley and, for me, that's a good thing. It keeps people here on their toes and shows the value of maintaining our form. Orrell is not going to be easy. We see it as very much in the same category as an away trip to Rotherham or Exeter.

We know what happened at Rotherham. We also knew that Exeter was going to be tremendously hard but we came through that. What is slightly different against Orrell is that they have some variety to their game. Exeter is a forward-orientated attack while Orrell have a little more balance to them. They have a good, mobile pack and some very dangerous backs.

There is no doubt about it, this game should be an absolute cracker for supporters. Both sides will run the ball and the real winners will be rugby and the fans. It's a game I am really looking forward to. Our aim is to get into the Premiership and if we want that standard of rugby then we have to be able to meet these type of challenges.

We go into it in good form and after a convincing victory at Bedford are ready for Orrell. It is a key time for all of us at Worcester but we will rise to the occasion.