WORCESTER Warriors’ ambition to establish themselves in the top tier of English rugby remains unchanged, according to full-back Chris Pennell.

Warriors are second bottom in the Aviva Premiership and only six points better off than basement boys Bristol in the fight to avoid relegation.

Worcester host West Midlands rivals Wasps at Sixways on Sunday (3pm) and will aim to bounce back from last weekend’s 57-22 mauling against Exeter Chiefs.

Pennell insisted: “Nothing at the club has changed in terms of our ambition.

“We will lick our wounds and come out firing and show our home support what it means to us.

“We need the support – it makes the game for us.

“We have incredible fans who have been through some very dark times.

“Despite the scoreline (at Exeter), I truly believe we are in a better place than we’ve ever been.

“Last season we were a different team and there are so many positives going on.”

Pennell’s performance at Sandy Park was among the few bright spots for Warriors on an afternoon when they were torn apart by last season’s Premiership finalists.

Exeter ran in eight tries as they shipped 57 points for only the second time in their Premiership history – they lost 57-3 at Sale Sharks in September 2004.

“If I could tell you why we were off I would probably be a very rich man and coaching England right now,” said Pennell.

“We missed too many one on one tackles and as soon as Exeter got on the front foot that took away where our strength lies in our defence.

“Against Northampton, we made our first-up hits and were able to get off the line and they had nowhere to go.

“That wasn’t the case against Exeter. We were soaking up first and second phase and once we did that a couple of times, Exeter got on the front foot and it was really hard to climb back from that."

Despite the battering, Josh Adams, Wynand Oliver and Dewald Potgieter crossed the whitewash and Warriors were searching for a bonus point score in the dying minutes.

“It shows how dangerous we can be when we play the game we want," said Pennell.

"When we get the ball out wide from set-piece we are dangerous and make line-breaks.

"The more times we can get that on to the field the better. "We had opportunities in the first half and couldn’t secure our set-piece.

“The challenge is to give ourselves the most opportunities as possible to get our game on the pitch.”

Warriors trailed 24-3 at the interval and Pennell felt the visitors remained in the contest when they re-appeared for the second half.

“We certainly didn’t feel the game had gone but we had spent the whole time defending and, when we did get it, we lost set-piece or turned it over after two or three phases,” he said.

“The message (at half time) was to fill the field and get 14 guys in the line and put some pressure on their attack and get the ball back and keep hold of it.

“We showed in the second half what we were capable of – obviously not enough times."

Pennell was replaced by wing Tom Biggs with 16 minutes remaining but expects to be OK for this weekend's showdown against Wasps.

“I am always disappointed to come off but there’s a big game coming up,” said Pennell.

“Pride won’t allow me to appreciate that it was the right call but I need to make sure I am fit and ready to go on Sunday."