TOM Heathcote has fired his first shot towards reclaiming the fly-half starting spot at Worcester Warriors but admits Ryan Lamb “can do some pretty special things on the field”.

With Lamb unavailable through injury, Heathcote made his first Aviva Premiership start of the campaign in Warriors’ 37-22 defeat at his former club Bath last Saturday.

Inverness-born Heathcote was Warriors’ first choice stand-off last term after arriving from Edinburgh.

He now wants to push for selection on merit when the experienced Lamb is free from injury.

Winless Warriors face Sale Sharks at Sixways on Saturday (3pm) and Heathcote wants to pull the strings for the hosts on the new artificial pitch.

“I am sure Lamby (Ryan Lamb) will be raring to go this weekend so it will be up to the coaches off the back of the last two weeks and whoever is selected will be ready and raring to go,” said Heathcote, who has won three caps for Scotland.

“The coaches decided to go with Lamby for the first two games and it’s up to me to take my chance and stake my claim when we are both fit again.

“I felt like I went quite well against Bath and I am pretty happy with the performance so when Lamby is fit again we can by vying for the shirt.”

Heathcote took over the fly-half mantle from Lamb in his debut campaign for Worcester, playing 20 times in the Premiership last season, collecting 143 points.

But Lamb has been given “a new lease of life” since Carl Hogg replaced the departed Dean Ryan and is just six points short of reaching the 1,000-point milestone for the Premiership.

Heathcote, 24, said: “Lamby played well for the first two games and is in a pretty good place this season and feeling good.

“When Lamby’s confident he can do some pretty special things on the field so it’s going to be good over the course of the season.

“I found out I was playing against Bath on the Thursday – it was a bit later than normal because Lamby was touch and go.

Heathcote converted two of Warriors’ three tries against Bath and also slotted a penalty.

However, he missed a fairly straightforward penalty early in the second period with Warriors lead 17-6.

“I was happy to stick over a couple from out wide but a little bit annoyed with a couple of kicks I missed,” he said.

“There was a little bit of a breeze but nothing too significant.”

Warriors drew 23-23 against rivals Gloucester in their first Premiership outing on their new playing surface.

Heathcote is hoping they can seal an historic first win against Sale on the artifcial pitch.

“It’s massive for us,” said Heathcote.

“It was awesome against Gloucester and a great game on the new pitch.

“We want to have a performance similar to that on Saturday and we are all be looking forward to the game.”