WE have a major test of character when Exeter come to town on Saturday. It is a massive game for all involved and one everyone wants to be part of.

After picking up an abdominal injury at Rugby at the weekend, I'm not sure whether I'll be playing but if not I'll be cheering the boys on from the sidelines.

Exeter have been our main rivals for the National One runners-up spot for a while now and we remember only too well when they turned us over at their place back in December. It is a really tough place to go.

I've been to a few grounds in my time but Exeter is one of the most difficult to go and win. However, it was a very disappointing day at a time when things were going against us on and off the field.

Some supporters were voicing their disapproval about our performances at home and it was a strange time to be a Worcester player.

Four months on and, although we have missed out on promotion, I think we have all moved on. The supporters are now great and I feel as if we've built up an affinity.

Exeter will travel to Sixways feeling as if they've got a point to prove after missing out on second place. Having beaten us at the County Ground already this season, they will certainly fancy their chances.

What is unthinkable, however, is that we go down in our final home match of the season because a number of players will be wanting to sign off the season in style.

A number will not be here for next season so for some it will be a chance to bid farewell to the supporters before moving on. One thing is for sure, it will be a hard, physical game.

I know that only too well after being on the end of a punch early on in that game down in Devon. The scars, mental as well as physical, are still very much there and it would be nice to put the record straight with an impressive performance.

Of course we hope to win the game but what we want is a good performance to pay back the fans for all their support over the season. It has not been an easy season for them with so many new faces and we must make sure we sign off at home in the right manner.

We go into the game disappointed with our display in the 41-23 win at Rugby. We conceded a sloppy early try and I think that set the tone of the day for us. Obviously we had good patches in the game and ended up clear winners.

However, we have to set extremely high standards when we step between those white lines if we are to progress and develop our game.

To be fair to Rugby, I thought they were very well organised and, importantly, had done their homework on us. They were extremely hungry and contested the ball very well.

They kicked to the back three well and disrupted the lineouts which gave us a few problems. We were a little sloppy on the basics and we must always remember to make sure we do A before we think about B. Our strike moves are great but they have to be done well.

There were some good performances though and what was pleasing is that we scored a good driven try from Chris Hall.

Chris Yates tackled extremely well and worked very hard while Dave Sims came on and was superb in the second half. Alistair Murdoch also pulled off a brilliant try-saving tackle on half-time to save our blushes.

I was also pleased for Richard Smith. He once again showed just how wonderfully consistent he is with another great display.

Even when Craig Chalmers went off in the second half with an injury, he didn't look out of place at fly half! He is a top professional and has been one of the signings of the season.

Hopefully, I will have recovered for Saturday's game because it is a chance for me personally to say thank you to the supporters at Sixways.

We haven't won promotion for them this season but I think we have come a long way together nevertheless.

Congratulations to Rotherham after clinching the title on Saturday. They have proved week in, week out that they are the yardstick in this division and I hope they are given the green light to go up. They deserve their success.