ANDY Keast column

Complacency certainly won't be tolerated at Sixways.

Saturday's 15-9 win at the Stoop was justifiably lauded by the press over the weekend.

The players certainly deserved the credit for such a hard-fought victory in a vital game. However, they know that hard work brought them that win and it will be no different in tomorrow's clash with Sale Sharks.

We've got an honest, hard-working bunch at Sixways and there are no big heads or egos. Everybody knows exactly where we're at as a Premiership outfit. We're still developing and tomorrow offers us another big test. So, nobody's getting carried away after two successive wins.

I do believe, however, that we've come a long way since we lost 57-3 at Sale in September. That result was a difficult one to swallow because the Sharks were superb that night at Edgeley Park while we were still acclimatising to life in the top flight. We were given a painful lesson as Jason Robinson and Co played some fantastic rugby.

That was then, this is now and we've made massive strides since September. Our basics have improved, our forward pack is strong, our backs defend a lot better and our decision making at nine and 10 is good. As a team, and as a squad, we have improved in a lot of areas but that development doesn't stop just because we've begun to win matches. We have to keep on working if we are going to stay in this league because, as I keep reminding people, we're not safe yet.

Preparation for the game has not been normal because we've had the freezing weather to cope with plus a day less with it being a Friday night clash. But there's no doubt that the game will go ahead. We've had the covers on since Saturday and the groundsmen have been working hard to ensure there are no hiccups.

I think the supporters will be buzzing tomorrow. The atmosphere, at our two previous Friday games, has been special and that's helped us to two victories including a win over European champions Wasps. We want that record to continue tomorrow and we know that the Sixways factor plays a major part in our performances.

I thought the away support was excellent at Quins and the vocal encouragement is a major boost to everybody at the club. On Saturday, before kick-off, we had a very different game plan to the one which actually transpired after 20 minutes. It became clear that we had the beating of them up front so we played to our strengths and targeted their Achilles heel.

The conditions also played a part because there was a strong wind gusting around the Stoop and it wasn't a day to throw the ball about. We went there to get a result and we came away with four points, so it was mission accomplished.

I think all Worcester supporters know, however, that rugby to me is about the 15-man game and certainly we want to see an expansive style at Sixways. We must, though, take it one step at a time and we're going to play to our strengths in our first Premiership season.

Enormous credit must go to John Brain because he has moulded this pack into what it is today. People think it's just about brute strength but there is a lot of technique involved and John knows everything there is to know about a successful scrum. He has made them into a very cohesive unit and they're working well together.

Worcester are not a team of superstars. We are a side of grafters, of hard workers and, as a collective unit, we are developing. If we start to think we are anything else, then we'll lose.

Complacency just doesn't come into it.