THE experience of winning a relegation battle last season will stand Worcester Warriors in good stead, according to Ryan Mills.

The versatile back believes Warriors’ players know how to respond when their backs are against the wall in the Aviva Premiership.

Warriors eventually finished 10th last season – above Newcastle Falcons and relegated London Irish - but looked in deep trouble after losing 20-13 to the Exiles in February.

Warriors are second-bottom in the top tier this term and just one point and one place above vastly-improved Bristol, whom they meet at Sixways on March 5.

Mills, 24, said: “We are not looking around the table. We were on pretty much the same amount of points this time last year before going on a good run.

“We have been here before and know who in our team stands up and we know how to do it.

“I think we are a better squad than we were last season. Last season, if we had to deal with the amount of injuries we had at the start of this season, we would have crumbled.

“We had the whole starting back-line out for about five or six games this term.

“I think we had 16 to 17 first-team players out at one point and if we had done that last year we would have struggled. This year we have managed to pull through.”

Warriors have won just twice in the Premiership this term but have drawn twice at home - 23-23 against Gloucester and 34-34 against Sale Sharks.

“Had we turned those draws into wins, we would be in a different place in the table and talking very differently,” said Mills.

“We just need to improve our consistency and make sure we are performing every week.”

Warriors face a stern test tomorrow against reigning champions Saracens, also the European Champions Cup holders, (3pm).

“We have an important run of games in the Premiership, three of which are at home,” said Mills.

"It will be a massive four-game block for us and we will need to target some wins.”