IT was fascinating to hear the insights of Gareth Chilcott at the Supporters' Club evening on Wednesday night and heartening to know he believes Worcester can stay in the Premiership.

Most observers outside the confines of Sixways have given the club little hope of preserving their top-flight status but Chilcott insisted Warriors are a better side than at least two other teams in the division and can win enough games at home to claw themselves to safety.

Of course, it must be remembered the former England and British Lions star was addressing an audience of Worcester supporters, but I for one was convinced his remarks were genuine and are, at the very least, worthy of greater consideration.

Since the current scoring system came into existence, the team finishing in 11th place in the Premeirship has amassed a points tally in the mid to high thirties.

In the last two years, that has risen above 40 but all the indications are it might dip slightly this season.

Either way, five wins is likely to go a long way to securing the club's future in the top division.

Chilcott's logic is that all of the remaining Premiership fixtures at Sixways are "winnable".

That is not too far wide of the mark. Leicester and Wasps were both put to the sword in their visits to Worcester over the last two seasons while Bath, Newcastle and Saracens represent decent opportunities to register victories.

But Worcester have lost plenty of "winnable" games at home this season, in particular to Harlequins and Northampton.

They will need to be at the very top of their game for all of those matches if they are to pull off the most unlikely of recoveries.

Significantly, Warriors have been at their best on the road recently and there is no reason they can't continue to pick up some more results, although journeys to Gloucester, Sale, Bristol and London Irish will provide the sternest possible examinations of any side's character and nerve.

Chilcott's reasoning stems from his belief in the man at the helm. Warriors director of rugby John Brain played alongside the prop when the two represented South West counties and Chilcott believes his unassuming and quiet demeanour masked one of the sharpest minds in the business.

Warriors are certainly going to need all of Brain's qualities if they are to haul themselves off the bottom of the Premiership.

And the man himself knows how important it is to get off to a winning start when Wasps visit next Friday.

"I just try to take each one as it comes," said Brain. "But Friday is a very important game for us, it is as important a game as we have played here."

The upcoming Six Nations will help his side's cause, especially as it looks like they will retain their captain Pat Sanderson during that period.

Worcester also seem to have been relatively fortunate on the injury front as well, particularly in comparison to the likes of Sale.

But the teams who are losing front-line players, whether through injuries or internationals, will be forced into a re-shuffle.

The replacements they bring in are unlikely to match their quality but will be fresh and keen to impress.

That could work against Worcester at a time when a number of key players have been playing lots of high-pressure rugby recently, which is bound to take its toll.

If Worcester are to complete the great escape they have several obstacles to overcome but, if luck goes their way, it is not beyond them.