WARRIORS are out to wrestle control of their Amlin Challenge Cup destiny tomorrow when they tackle Sale Sharks at Sixways (3pm).

Dean Ryan’s men opened their European campaign with a 9-9 draw at French outfit Oyonnax last Saturday and can move top of Pool One with success against Sale.

While the Sharks ousted French Top 14 strugglers Biarritz 33-10 to set the pace, Worcester are confident they can overhaul Sale and record what would be their first win of the season following five Aviva Premiership defeats. With only the group winners progressing to the quarter-finals, Warriors are out to seize the early initiative.

Head coach Carl Hogg said: “We’ve an opportunity to take charge of the group.

“We are home, we understand that they’re a good side but it gives an opportunity to take control if we get the performance right.

“Obviously, we’d all like to get wins but we need to get a performance first and foremost and that’s the thing we focus on.

“We need to get elements of the game right to give us an opportunity to be competitive. I think you saw last Saturday for long periods of time that we were competitive.

If we can sustain that this weekend then we’ll be in a good place.”

He continued: “Biarritz are struggling in the Top 14 so it’s difficult to say how much emphasis or priority they put on the competition but Sale were pretty comprehensive.

“We’re under no illusions of the challenge that they bring to Sixways but it’s one we are looking forward to.”

Argentine lock Mariano Galarza and hooker Augustin Creevy are both set to make their debuts, while there could be more minutes for young prospects Ben Howard, Dean Hammond and Max Stelling.

Hogg said: “We have an opportunity to mix the group up and we’ll integrate one or two younger people to freshen it up.”