WORCESTER Warriors head coach Carl Hogg believes ‘small margins’ will prove decisive in Friday’s British and Irish Cup semi-final with holders Leinster ‘A’ at Sixways (7.45pm).

Hogg says Warriors will be keeping faith with the squad, largely fringe players, who have guided the club to within one win of the final.

Worcester will have to achieve what no other English side has managed in the past four years — beating Leinster in the competition.

The Irish province’s second string have clinched the cup for the past two seasons and won their last 11 matches against Championship opposition.

They are unbeaten in 17 — a run that stretches back to a 50-15 quarter-final defeat at the hands of Bedford in March 2011.

Hogg said: “We have done very well in this competition with a young group — the lads were very disappointed to come up short against Saracens Storm in the Aviva A-League final.

“I think it’s all about learning lessons and Friday night will be a challenge.

“We know we will need to get the basic elements of our game right to give ourselves a performance that will be worthy of a victory.

“It will be about small margins and we need to make sure we nail those small margins.”

Warriors have already defeated Irish opposition twice in this season’s competition — they beat Munster ‘A’ 27-23 at Sixways in October and edged December’s away fixture 23-18.

Worcester booked their spot in the last four after overcoming Pontypridd 24-10 in the quarter-finals in January.

Flanker Sam Lewis is not registered to play in the competition, while Cooper Vuna is injured and Ryan Lamb is unlikely to feature until Worcester’s trip to Jersey.

Warriors or Leinster will travel to the winners of the other semi-final, which takes place on Saturday between Doncaster Knights and Bristol.

The final is on Friday, April 3, with a 5.10pm kick-off.