REFEREE Matthew O’Grady takes charge of his maiden Aviva Premiership match as Worcester Warriors chase a first top-tier triumph against Exeter Chiefs on Saturday (4.30pm).

Carl Hogg’s Worcester will need to improve their discipline from last Friday’s 18-17 home defeat to Northampton Saints to put an end Chiefs’ dominance between the rivals.

Warriors totalled around 18 penalties which allowed Saints fly-half Stephen Myler to help himself to a match-winning 18-point haul.

“Exeter are obviously a very strong side and we just need to get back on the wagon because our major downfall was our discipline,” said Warriors head coach Hogg.

Exeter have won all eight Premiership fixtures against Worcester.

Warriors’ most recent success over Chiefs was at the old County Ground in Division One in March 2004.

Chiefs recorded a league double over Warriors last term, including a thumping 50-12 triumph at Sandy Park in April.

Ironically, Warriors’ secured their Premiership status that afternoon at the expense of London Irish but they crumbled under pressure from Exeter, conceding four tries in the final 21 minutes.

Warriors trio James Johnston, Jaba Bregvadze and Carl Kirwan were all yellow carded in the game, while rookie prop Gareth Milasinovich suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Exeter are among only three sides in this season’s Premiership who have tallied fewer league points at home than on their travels.

The Devon club are fifth with three wins and four defeats from their opening eight matches.

Warriors are second bottom with just one win and hold a seven-point advantage over bottom club Bristol, whom they face at Ashton Gate in a crucial relegation showdown on Boxing Day (3pm).

Worcester’s only victory in their last seven first team encounters was a 31-25 home success against Bristol in the Anglo-Welsh Cup on November 4.

Warriors have picked only two away victories since returning to the Premiership and both came in successive fixtures at Newcastle Falcons and Harlequins in March this year.

Last Friday, Exeter ended a three-game winless run in the Premiership with a 32-19 victory at Newcastle.