LEEDS Tykes coach Phil Davies believes the pressure is on Worcester to perform in tomorrow's winner-take-all crunch clash at Headingley.

Worcester have seen their lead at the top of National One cut from 11 points to just three in recent months and with Leeds having an all-important game in hand, Davies is convinced his side can afford to relax and play with some freedom on Sunday.

The former Welsh international was in Worcester last week to pick up a copy of the Evening News and was amused that the National One leaders are having pressure stacked on their shoulders before the biggest game of the season.

Sixways director of coaching Adrian Skeggs criticised his players after their recent 27-8 triumph over Manchester and even hauled them in for extra training the next day.

Davies, writing in his column for the Yorkshire Evening Post, said he believed that extra pressure could back-fire on Worcester as the sides go head to head for promotion to the Zurich Premiership.

He said: "I was in Wales on Sunday and Monday so on the way back to Leeds I managed to pick up a copy of Worcester's local newspaper. Apparently Worcester were in for extra training after their game at the weekend and the players were told their contracts depend on them beating us.

"It's amazing that we are getting mentioned all the time and they seem to be put under that amount of pressure. It's going to be hard enough as it is, so I'm trying to keep my boys relaxed."

Davies added: "We all know the magnitude of the game and the consequences of losing but it's no good ramming that down my throat or the players' throats.

"We'll treat it as another game and, if we perform the outcome will take care of itself."