WARRIORS fans have grown accustomed to world-famous former All Blacks strutting around the place at Sixways — but Mike Ruddock’s men will be cheered on by a current Kiwi superstar tomorrow.

Hosea Gear, the younger brother of Warriors wing Rico, has been staying with his elder sibling this week and will be watching the European Challenge Cup visit of Bourgoin (3pm).

However, Gear senior believes it would take an impressive Warriors performance to convince his brother to quit the Land of the Long White Cloud for the Faithful City.

The Worcester wideman explained: “I went to the All Blacks’ game with Munster and then the Test match against Wales as I was watching my younger brother Hosea who also plays on the wing.

“His tour has finished now and he has been staying with me and my family this week. He is coming to watch the game tomorrow, but I reckon we’ll have to play well if we want to persuade him to come and sign for us. But, you never know, he could be impressed and be a Worcester Warriors player of the future!”

After being one of Worcester’s stand-out performers in the disappoining defeat to Bourgoin on French soil last weekend, Gear feels he is finally approaching top form.

The former All Black, who scored 10 tries in 19 appearances for his country, put in an impressive display at outside-centre for the Barbarians against Australia and is now brimming with confidence.

The 30-year-old added: “It was great to rub shoulders with some of the best players in the world with the Barbarians — it was a tough game and great to experience playing at that level again.

“The main difference is that you need to be cool and calm under pressure — take the right options — and I can hopefully bring that to the Warriors team. I just want to contribute to the team the best I can.”

Although Gear relished being on the international stage once again, he insists he has no qualms about turning his back on the All Blacks in favour of a lucrative move to Sixways.

He said: “It brought back my international memories of playing for the All Blacks and the feeling of preparing for the intensity of a Test match.

“It is a different level and it was nice to experience that again. However, I have absolutely no regrets about coming to Worcester — I love the club and playing at Sixways.

“I am slowly getting back to top form now — I played three games in a week last week, which was tough, but the body feels good.

“I have still not been able to show my best for Worcester so far, but as a team we still have work to do in terms of playing up the outside.

“There is pressure on me to perform, especially after the injuries to Marcel Garvey and Miles Benjamin, but I will try and use my experience to give the younger guys some direction.

“I really enjoy playing at Sixways — our fans are fantastic. They always just want to get behind the boys and it is great when we can give them something to shout about —hopefully I’ll be able to do that tomorrow.”

The weather forecast suggests fans should not expect a feast of flowing rugby at Sixways, but the former Canterbury Crusaders ace is not worried about the conditions.

He said: “The weather forecast is bad, but I think that should help us as we can play a tight game. Bourgoin played an expansive game, so bad weather might work in our favour.

“It will be difficult for us to run the ball, so we will look to pressurise them in other ways — by playing the kick-chase game and tackling hard.”