THE verbal sparring has begun in earnest as Worcester Warriors start to focus on their titanic clash at Pertemps Bees.

Bees' director of rugby Phil Maynard claimed the pressure was exclusively on Worcester's shoulders ahead of Saturday's National One encounter at Sharmans Cross Road (2pm).

Worcester travel to Solihull with a four-point lead at the top of the league and know that victory would move them a huge step closer towards promotion.

"The pressure is all on Worcester," said Maynard. "I read quotes about John Brain (Worcester's director of rugby) relishing the trip to Sharmans Cross Road and we're very flattered that Worcester think that much about us. You'd have to be barmy to relish a trip to Sharmans Cross Road, though!

"They've got a £2m playing budget so really they should come to our place and roll us over. There is no pressure on us."

Brain, however, reinforced the view that he was looking forward to Saturday's showdown purely on a rugby basis.

"I've got nothing against Phil Maynard, he did a tremendous job at Worcester and he's doing very well at Birmingham," said Brain. "We're relishing the game because it's first versus third. It's a challenge and I've got a set of players together here that relish a challenge.

"To say that we've got a £2m budget is way off the mark. It's hundreds of thousands of pounds off the mark."