BACK-ROW forward Marco Mama admits he doesn’t know whether he will be competing on the field or watching from the stands when he returns to Bristol.

The 24-year-old has signed a deal with Aviva Premiership Worcester Warriors and will become a permanent player at Sixways in the summer.

Mama is on loan at Worcester until February 28 before he heads back to Bristol, who are battling for promotion from the Championship.

He will be aiming to secure a place in Warriors’ squad for Sunday’s Premiership showdown with high-flying Exeter Chiefs at Sixways (3pm).

“It’s going to be interesting for me when I go back because I could be watching their games and the Premiership table quite intently,” said Mama, who has played 12 times for Warriors.

“I have got a good relationship with a lot of people at Worcester now and I have a strong affiliation to the club with them being so good to me.”

The Nigerian-born player was part of Bristol’s side pipped to promotion by Warriors by one point in the two-legged Championship play-off final last season.

Bristol currently top the Championship with 11 wins and two defeats from 13 matches and are seven points better off than second-placed Doncaster Knights.

Yorkshire Carnegie are third and Bedford Blues fill the final play-off spot, holding a nine-point advantage over fifth-placed Jersey.

Mama said: “It’s an interesting Championship this year. It’s not the two-horse race it was last season and there is some promise shown from Doncaster and Yorkshire Carnegie and a couple of sides and it looks like a competitive league.

“There are some strong, spirited sides and that was the biggest challenge for Bristol early on because they probably still had a bit of a hangover from the play-off final defeat.

“Let’s hope Bristol can show their experience and development in the play-offs and finally get it right.”

Mama’s mind drifted back to the dramatic Championship play-off finale after Warriors’ heart-breaking 32-22 defeat at Wasps in their last Premiership outing. Warriors were leading 22-20 with just two minutes remaining and looked to be heading for their third league win of the campaign.

But Wasps grabbed two tries at the death, with one converted, to snatch a remarkable victory at the Ricoh Arena.

“Wasps scored two tries at the end and all of a sudden a game in which we felt we had dominance was out of our hands,” said Mama.

“I don’t think the current league table is a true reflection at the moment.

“The defeat at Wasps did feel like déjà vu for me from the play-off final but you can learn about yourselves and about how to make those tight games go your way.”