THE “competitive” nature of the Aviva Premiership means there are “no easy fixtures,” according to Worcester Warriors head coach Carl Hogg.

And Warriors will be using their pre-season campaign to make the squad as “robust” as possible to absorb the gruelling nature of the season ahead.

One fixture which catches the eye is Warriors’ trip to newly-promoted Bristol in round 11 on December 23, 24 or 26.

Worcester’s return fixture against Andy Robinson’s Bristol is in round 17 on Saturday, March 4, 2017 (3pm).

Hogg said: “You look across the Premiership fixture list and there are no easy games.

“There are no guaranteed home wins in Premiership rugby and that’s what makes it such a great league.

“There are teams that can turn each other over home and away and it’s so competitive.

“The margins are so tight and you end up using pre-season to build yourself up into a robust condition to be able to absorb that.”

Warriors pipped Bristol to promotion from the Greene King IPA Championship in a thrilling two-legged final in May 2015.

However, the West Country side finally sealed their passage back to the top tier of English rugby this summer after overcoming Doncaster Knights in the promotion final.

Bristol have recruited former Warriors captain Jonathan Thomas as their new defensive coach and Hogg believes they “will be a challenge in the Premiership”.

“Andy has done a fantastic job at Bristol,” said Hogg.

“It’s been two or three years in the making and they have got some real consistency now.

“They will be a challenge in the Premiership, especially at Ashton Gate with a full house.”

Hogg added: “I spoke to Andy at a meeting a couple of days ago and they are expecting big crowds and that’s another of the challenges in the Premiership. There are no easy fixtures.”