REIGNING Premiership champions Saracens will come to “bully” Worcester Warriors today, admits director of rugby Gary Gold.

The star-studded Champions Cup holders will try to increase the relegation woes on struggling Warriors at Sixways (3pm).

Gold says “there are certain ways to deal with a bully” as he prepares his troops for one of the season’s toughest challenges.

Since Warriors returned to the top tier in May 2015, Sarries have looked a class above Worcester in their three meetings.

They overpowered Warriors in the second half of the curtain-raising showdown in September to win 35-3 at Twickenham.

The London club sealed a 43-19 victory at Sixways last May after Warriors troubled them at times in the opening half.

And in their first clash after sealing promotion Warriors were soundly beaten 48-18 by the ruthless hosts in November 2015.

“We must be very clear in our mind that Sarries are coming here to bully us — there’s no doubt about that,” said Gold who arrived at Worcester last week.

“There are certain ways to deal with a bully. One of them is we have to know what we want to achieve and if we are clear then hopefully it helps with the process.”

Bristol were thrashed 42-8 at home by Harlequins last night and remain bottom of the table.

Sarries have lost just one of their last nine league outings and conceded only 10 tries so far.

They have won their last seven games with Worcester since Warriors’ 12-3 Premiership triumph at Sixways in November 2012.

Gold, a former South Africa coach, saw Warriors record a 53-38 victory at an under-strength Cardiff Blues last Saturday in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.

Warriors have won just twice in the top tier this term and Gold is demanding a committed and all-energy display from his new side.

“We have just asked for an improvement from the players but mostly around the energy,” said Gold who takes charge of his first league match with Worcester.

“Sarries are a great team and we certainly haven’t given up by a long way but we really want to see a fight.

“If we lose to a better rugby team so be it but we don’t want to lose because there isn’t a fight.

“We will be up for it and I have a lot of faith in this group.

“Sarries have big, strong forwards who dominate the gain-line and then their backs, led by their nine, are dangerous and we have to be aware of that.

“The better teams do their basics really well and wait for you to make a mistake. That’s when they pounce.

“We have to learn the patience aspect and need to get out in the middle to do it before we learn the lessons and we don’t want to fall along the way.”