ALAN Solomons reckons “good competition for places” at Warriors has placed added importance on spreading out game time in the Premiership Cup.

Worcester return to action a week on Saturday when Leicester head to Sixways for the first of four pool matches in a competition designed to create opportunities for squad players.

The Rugby World Cup has delayed the start of league action this time around with the Premiership Cup seen by many as an extension of pre-season.

And on the back of declaring himself content with Warriors’ closed-season work, Solomons confirmed “most” of his squad would taste action across four pool matches against Tigers, Bath, Exeter and Wasps.

“Like most clubs in the Premiership, these are being used as our warm-up games as well so they will serve a dual purpose. I think it makes sense to approach it like that,” said Solomons.

“I would hope to give most of the players an opportunity, it is part of our warm-up and important to give everyone the opportunity to play, particularly when I feel we have good competition for places.”

Preparations continued back at basecamp this week following one week in Spain followed by a short break.

“The camp was fantastic. The facilities were 10 minutes from the hotel and excellent and we were quite fortunate with the weather,” added Solomons.

“It was a hugely beneficial experience and the players really enjoyed it. Because of the heat we started at 7.30 and were generally done by 1-2 o’clock on the afternoon, it gave the boys an opportunity to get around the beach and the pool.

“Last season it was during the conditioning period that we went to Spain, this season we went a bit later so there was a rugby focus.

“We had two four-week blocks with a week-long break at the end, one of which was after the camp so this has been our first week back after that.

“It has been a tough one but the players have done well. It always takes a bit of time after a break but now we start playing a week Saturday and every week until the end of January, dependent on how things pan out in the Premiership Cup.

“I am happy. We had a good pre-conditioning block and played conditioning games and skills and so on, there were rugby elements to it.

“We are fully focused on the rugby now, we have had an extended pre-season but I am happy with the way it has gone.”