DURING the astonishment which greeted Rotherham's recent defeat to Exeter, Worcester's deadpan coach John Brain unearthed some all too familiar frustrations by the reaction at Sixways.

Brain, who has now served five months in his role as head coach, was pointed with his response to the disbelief around the stadium that such immortals had been denied.

"Our supporters keep telling me that Rotherham are unbeatable," he said. "However, they weren't against Exeter and they weren't here at Sixways earlier in the season.

"They are not unbeatable, Exeter played a limited game plan against them and they couldn't react. Rotherham are a good side but it's not true to say they cannot lose because plainly they have already done so twice now."

Hauntingly, it is the same affliction which gripped former coach Adrian Skeggs midway through last season when a rampant Leeds side were tearing down the doors to promotion with stunning efficiency. The Australian became tired with the cynics around Sixways and their scepticism of ever winning promotion to the top flight.

As Rotherham come to town on Saturday, however, it is a notion which needs to be eradicated if Worcester are to finally tap into their rich potential. For unless supporters can wrestle off the shackles of self doubt, the dream of promotion is likely to remain an illusion which is always agonisingly out of reach.

Brain could hardly be more of a contrast to Skeggs in persona but the same irritations of this insecurity complex among supporters have begun to appear.

In the end, they were correct in their assumptions that their side was not good enough last season as the reality became abundantly clear at Headingley on April Fool's Day. Leeds deservedly won that showdown and captured promotion in another heart-breaking setback for chairman Cecil Duckworth.

However, supporters' criticism of this year's fledgling team and assumptions of Rotherham's invincibility seem, at present, to be premature. The Clifton Lane club have already lost two games and go into the fifth round cup clash desperate to avoid a third with the campaign only three months old.

For Worcester, it is a chance to finally exorcise the feelings of self-doubt. Brain or Jim Kilfoyle are unlikely to play a full strength team but the psychological boost two victories over your closest rivals would bring is there for all to see.

Both coaches will obviously play down the effects of defeat in the post-match comment at Sixways. But for Brain's team it could yet prove to be their most important match of the season. That they beat their rivals 20-18 in September seems to have been forgotten already by many.

Supporters went away from the September match with memories of Rotherham piling on the pressure at the end of the game and Worcester hanging on frantically.

That was indeed the picture but there were also opportunities for the home side to score well before that period of pressure began as Rotherham revealed their defensive vulnerabilities. In truth, there is little to choose between the two teams. They are extremely well matched in all departments, especially within the two packs.

However, the confidence off the field may be the telling aspect this season. There is little doubt of the infinite conviction among Rotherham supporters when they talk of promotion.

After a year in the Premiership, their fans are convinced they will return at the end of this campaign. It is not arrogance, simply true faith in what they believe will happen. That contagious sentiment is transferred from the supporters to the coaching staff and on to the players.

For Worcester, it is time to start believing. Undoubtedly there is always room for criticism but if a winning mentality can be transmitted on the field, the same can be said for one riddled with insecurities and defeatism.

Victory over Rotherham on Saturday will surely go a long way to exploding a myth and putting the record straight.