Bourgoin v Worcester: Teams

Worcester captain Pat Sanderson believes Saturday's European Challenge Cup semi-final against Bourgoin provides his players with the perfect opportunity to avenge a disappointing league campaign.

The Warriors finished the Guinness Premiership season in 11th place, however victory in France would keep alive their European aspirations.

The cup winners are guaranteed a place in the Heineken Cup, and Worcester will reach a second successive final should they reign at the Stade Pierre Rajon.

Sanderson said: "We expected far more from ourselves and believed we had a squad good enough to earn us Heineken Cup rugby solely on our league performances.

"But, while that obviously did not happen, we have found some good form of late and turned some good sides over, and now we have a huge semi-final to look forward to."

Physical contest

Sanderson hopes the pain of Worcester's 24-16 defeat to Bath in the 2008 Challenge Cup final will serve as motivation when he and his team-mates take to the field.

And if they topple Bourgoin, it would also end Wasps' Heineken Cup hopes. Wasps' seventh-place Premiership finish means the Londoners will play top-flight European rugby next term - but only if Bourgoin lift the Challenge Cup.

"We face a big challenge at Bourgoin - on their day, they can be pretty formidable," added Sanderson.

"They are a very big, strong and physical side, and while we know exactly what to expect from them, that doesn't make it any easier stopping them.

"It promises to be a fantastic physical contest and could well come down to who wants it the most on the day.

"It is incredibly important for us to make every possible effort to get to a second successive Challenge Cup final.

Crunch clash

"We have not achieved what we would have liked this season, and this semi-final is a real lifeline for us."

As well as Sanderson, Worcester welcome back Greg Rawlinson, Dale Rasmussen and Ryan Powell to the starting line-up.

The quartet were rested for the recent Guinness Premiership clash with London Irish, however, they have all been declared fit for the crunch last four clash.

Loki Crichton is ruled out of the game with a knee ligament injury and so Rico Gear moves to full back with Rasmussen coming in at inside centre to partner Alex Grove.

Hooker Aleki Lutui is handed a start in the front row alongside Callum Black and Darren Morris while Rawlinson will be joined by Graham Kitchener in the second row.

Director of rugby Mike Ruddock has also named Matt Powell among the replacements while home-grown stars Greg King and Michael Penn are also on the bench.

Worcester: 15 Rico Gear, 14 Charlie Fellows, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Dale Rasmussen, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 Ryan Powell; 1 Callum Black 2 Aleki Lutui, 3 Darren Morris, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 5 Graham Kitchener, 6 Tom Wood 7 Pat Sanderson (c), 8 Netani Talei.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Ruwers, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Will Bowley, 19 James Collins, 20 Matt Powell, 21 Greg King, 22 Michael Penn.