WARRIORS scrum-half Jonny Arr believes past performances and reputations will count for little when it comes to being a Worcester regular under Dean Ryan.

The Sixways squad are currently four weeks into a punishing five-week pre-season programme at Malvern College as they step up their preparations for the new Aviva Premiership campaign.

Arr is already focussing on being in tip-top shape for the curtain-raiser at champions Leicester Tigers on September 8.

But the 24-year-old, who featured in 29 games last season, insists every player has a clean slate now that new director of rugby Ryan is in charge.

Arr said: “Dean has brought in his fresh team. A lot of exciting coaches have come in and they’re really challenging us.

"Hopefully, over the next eight weeks or so we’ve got left of pre-season, we’ll try to ensure everything they’re putting across becomes our second nature.

“It wouldn’t be a good place to be if there wasn’t any competition and I’ll go into it as I go into every season. It’s a fresh start and you’ve got to work hard to get yourself on the team sheet.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do before we get anywhere near those first few games but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t in the back of my head.

“It’s just about getting all the detail that the coaches are throwing at us, learning all the new things and getting ready for the warm-up games and then Leices-ter at Welford Road in the first match.”

There has been little let-up in the schedule for the players under the glaring sun but Arr is relishing the challenge, although he admits it sometimes takes its toll.

He added: “The most obvious difference is the environment we’re in coming up to Malvern College.

"Personally, it’s nice to go somewhere new, see different faces and just train in a completely different environment. The facilities are absolutely fantastic there. We’ve got the pool, gym and the pitches. Everything we need is here.

“It’s pretty brutal training in the heat. We’ve just had a condition games session and at times I was struggling to say the least, but I’m not going to complain because as soon as the rain comes I’m going to be wishing for warmer weather again.”