DEAN Ryan has dismissed claims from the Bristol camp that Worcester Warriors are “slight favourites” to clinch promotion to the Aviva Premiership.

The Worcester Warriors director of rugby has hit back at comments made earlier this week by Bristol’s first team coach Sean Holley.

Despite beating Worcester twice during the regular campaign and finishing top of the table, Bristol's Holley claimed the injury-hit Sixways outfit were in fact “slight favourites” to win the two-legged Championship play-off final owing to their "experience" and "recent history".

Ryan admitted Warriors had plenty to prove but dismissed Holley’s claims as “mind games”, saying he wasn’t interested in “points scoring” ahead of the battle.

When informed about Holley's claims, Ryan said: “I am not interested in points scoring or anything else about who is favourite or who is not.

“It’s a two game aggregate contest. We have a lot to prove."

He added: "In terms of caps or experience I am pretty sure they (Bristol) have got it on their side.

“In terms of what we’re capable of doing I think we want to make sure we represent that.

“I am not interested in playing mind games and who is what over the next few weeks.”

The first leg of the final takes place at Ashton Gate on Wednesday, with the return at Sixways on May 27 (both 7.45pm).