ANDY Short is determined to “prove a point” when Worcester Warriors go up against Enisei-STM in Moscow tomorrow (1pm BST).

The Worcester-born wing makes his first senior appearance in nearly nine months at the Slava Stadium for Warriors’ European Challenge Cup opener.

Since returning to his hometown club last year, it has been a frustrating time for the 25-year-old, who had to undergo surgery after breaking his ankle.

Short played just two games that season and has been forced to bide his time this term as Warriors’ young backs seized their chance in the Aviva Premiership.

However, the former Worcester Sixth Form College student is now keen to put the disappointment behind him and get himself back into the first-team reckoning.

“Perry Humphreys, Josh Adams, Jamie Shillcock and Dean Hammond have all had opportunities and taken them really well,” he said.

“They have been playing outstandingly, so credit to those guys.

“It’s been frustrating for me but it’s about the team goal and if we are all pushing towards that then everyone is winning.

“I was unfortunate injury-wise last season and I have not really got into it this term but this is a great opportunity for people like myself and others on the fringes to showcase what they can do.”

Short is among a number of fringe players given an opportunity to impress in Russia and possibly against Brive at Sixways the following Saturday too (3pm).

“These are two games to put a marker down and give the club a bit of momentum into the Quins league match,” said the ex-Bristol back.

“This is a good group of boys who really want to work for each other. When you get a team and a squad who have got points to prove and people to prove wrong, it can be dangerous.

“I think, from one to 23, all want to prove a point to someone or themselves, so we are going to go out all guns blazing.”

Last season, Warriors picked up just one win in the competition as they finished bottom of their group.

Enisei-STM, meanwhile, defeated Brive and Newcastle Falcons and Short believes the Siberian side will be a “force to be reckoned with at home”.

“Obviously we want to kick off the cup with a decent performance,” he said. “But it’ll be a massive challenge.

“We don’t really know too much about them but they have turned over Brive and Newcastle, so they are obviously a force to be reckoned with at home.

“But equally they are travelling as far as we are, so we are looking forward to that challenge and going away to Moscow for the first time for the club and for myself personally.”