CHAIRMAN Cecil Duckworth has backed the Warriors players and coaches to turn their faltering season around and has rubbished claims performances are lacking in passion.

A sixth consecutive league defeat at Leicester on Saturday leaves Worcester rock bottom of the Guinness Premiership - five points adrift of their nearest rivals.

But Duckworth believes the team can bounce back and claw their way out of trouble.

"I am very confident we have the resolve," he said. "We certainly don't lack enthusiasm and we have the quality.

"We want results like there is no tomorrow. How do you show passion? You get down to the job. The players feel it very badly when we lose, as do the whole coaching staff.

"There is a belief when we are 20-0 down. They still believe we can win. Their heads don't go down.

"It has been a bad start but there is a long way to go. We could play very well in the second-half of this season.

"It is extremely disappointing but we are not downhearted. We have to be resilient."

Northampton have been dragged towards the danger-zone with defeat at Harlequins on Saturday and Duckworth believes Worcester can kick-start their season with victory against the East Midlands club when they visit Sixways on Saturday.

"We have already beaten them once," he said. "It is an opportunity to get the show on the road. I am sure our supporters won't let us down.

"We should be able to start winning games. We will resolve to do that, the players will do that.

"Some people say we should look for new players. We don't think that is nessecary. The players themselves, they have got to work hard to get a few things right and they are working hard at that."

Duckworth also revealed the decision to pull Chris Horsman out of Wales' squad to face Australia on Saturday was made by Premier Rugby - the clubs' governing body - rather than Worcester.

Horsman was originally named on the bench but was withdrawn because the fixture fell outside the official Test window.

"Premier Rugby decided a stand would be made," said Duckworth.