WORCESTER'S new boy Craig Chalmers is under no illusions just how tough life in National One is despite his lack of experience at that level.

The 32-year-old joined up with his new team-mates at Sixways earlier this week to begin a vital period of team building in preparation for the new season.

And Chalmers knows that spirit will be tested to the full in the coming months as Worcester look to finally win their place in English rugby's top flight, having narrowly missed out for three successive seasons.

"I know how Worcester are viewed in the league," he said. "They are the big team who everyone wants to beat.

"Every game will be like a cup final for the opposition but that is one of the reasons I wanted to come to Worcester - for the challenge."

Chalmers accepts that relegated Rotherham will the Gold'n'Blues' main rivals to promotion and he is in exactly the right position to judge their credentials after lining up against them last season.

The fly-half, who won 60 caps for Scotland over a 10-year period, was in the Harlequins team who dealt another blow to Rotherham's hopes of staying up when he kicked two conversions during a 32-12 win at Clifton Lane back in March.

Rotherham struggled hopelessly in their debut campaign in the Premiership last season, recording just two wins during a miserable time.

Chalmers, though, was not surprised that the Yorkshire club failed to adapt to the new level of the Premiership because he sees such a big gap between the two leagues.

He said: "I would say it's similar to playing international rugby because of the pace and the general physicality of it.

"It took me a while to get used to it coming from Scottish rugby and my body really felt it at first.

"It's a tough league but at the same time, it's where everyone wants to be.

"I'm no different from anyone else and the sooner we get Worcester into the Premiership, the better."