HEAD coach Carl Hogg believes Worcester Warriors will “embrace” the challenge of European and Aviva Premiership champions Saracens at Twickenham Stadium.

Warriors face star-studded Sarries on the opening day of the new season and Hogg insists they “couldn’t have asked for a better fixture”.

Hogg, pictured above, admits it will be a “litmus test” against Sarries who Warriors also played at Twickenham last November when the side, then led by former boss Dean Ryan, suffered a comprehensive 48-18 defeat.

And the London club were the visitors to Sixways on the final day of last season, leaving with a league double under their belts after completing an emphatic 43-19 success.

Warriors get their season under way on Saturday, September 3 (2pm), in a London double-header also involving Harlequins and newly-promoted Bristol.

Worcester will welcome Hogg’s former club Gloucester for their first Premiership match on the new artificial surface at Sixways on Friday, September 9 (7.45pm).

“Saracens are European and Premiership champions and, to play them at Twickenham, we couldn’t have asked for a better opening fixture,” said Hogg.

“If we want to challenge ourselves to go up the league, then Saracens are the benchmark.

“It’s a litmus test for us against a really good side full of international players at Twickenham.

“What more would you want from an opening game?

“Going to Twickenham means it’s going to be a big occasion and it gives us a real focus in pre-season.”

Warriors finished 10th in the Premiership last season and were outplayed only on a handful of occasions.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Sarries and Exeter Chiefs were two of the sides who looked a cut above Warriors on their return to the top tier.

Sarries were too strong for Worcester in both matches despite Warriors showing glimpses of their attacking prowess.

Hogg said: “The season is not going to be built on just one fixture at Twickenham.

“It’s about getting all aspects of our game in a fit and healthy condition for 22 rounds of the Premiership.

“The Premiership is a very attritional league with tight margins and our season won’t be dictated on the first weekend.

“With Saracens, you know they are going to come out with a huge amount of line speed and you have to negate that, especially in the first 20 minutes. You have to kick very smartly to Saracens.

“They have got an excellent kick return game and are very smart in putting their players in the right areas and distorting your defensive line — and that’s something we have to learn from last season.”

One familiar face making an early return to Sixways in the upcoming season will be centre Andy Symons, who has joined Gloucester.

Symons had signed a deal to join London Irish but was allowed to join the Kingsholm club after the Exiles were relegated to the Championship.

Hogg said: “You couldn’t have handpicked a better first home fixture either.

“We’ve got a new surface at Sixways and a local derby against big rivals Gloucester is fitting. I am sure the stadium will be full and there’s always a cracking atmosphere in matches between Gloucester and Worcester, so it’s ideal for us.

“I spent seven years at Kingsholm and I know the club reasonably well.

“There are not many players still there that I worked with, most of them have moved on or retired, but there’s still a bit of extra spice for me.

“If you wanted a team coming to you in your first fixture on your new artificial pitch, you couldn’t have made a better choice than Gloucester.”