FOR the uninitiated, this promotion lark can seem a little like Russian roulette.

Worcester have had their fair share of close calls over the past few years in shoot-outs with either the RFU or the promotion rivals of the time.

Looking at the division today, however, you would have to say that this season represents an outstanding opportunity to go up.

With Rotherham and Leeds now out of the way in the Premiership and relegated Bristol struggling to make any impact in this division, it looks a straight battle between Worcester and Orrell for the title.

And after the RFU rubber stamped promotion and relegation for the next two years back in the summer, courtesy of Francis Baron's casting vote, it seemed there was a revolutionary new thinking taking root at rugby's HQ.

The devil, though, is always in the detail. Promotion and relegation would be offered but with a rather large catch.

In order to be promoted, your stadium would now have to house a minimum capacity of 8,200 including a seating area of 4,000.

So the reality was in fact: Offer promotion safe in the knowledge that only three clubs, at a push, could make that grade by a February deadline.

A clause in this new criteria also gives clubs the opportunity to have a minimum capacity of 11,000 with just 2,500 covered seating. More than anything, this was introduced to get the present Premiership ground-sharing clubs out of jail when the National One outfits made the rather obvious point that, once again, it's one rule for them and quite another for the rest.

Bristol would make it up with their stadium while Orrell could always fall back on the JJB. That leaves Worcester and their fabulous Sixways ground.

With a capacity of around 4,000 it leaves them with a problem. The good news for supporters is that the management have enough nous -- after years of political battling within the game -- to remain one step ahead.

The East Stand at Sixways holds the key. Last season, more seats were brought into the east side of the stadium for the promotion showdown with Rotherham while the north side could also be increased to meet the criteria.

"First Division Rugby objected to the new criteria and as far as we are concerned, it has to be agreed with that body before it comes into effect," said Worcester chairman Cecil Duckworth.

"If it did, however, become the criteria then we would be ready. If we won promotion to the Premiership then we have always planned to increase the capacity and we are in talks with planners over the East Stand.

"We have outline planning permission to develop that stand and we've been in discussions now for a lengthy period on just where we want to go."

The only decision now seems to be whether to move the goal posts. It is something the RFU have turned into an art form.