THE “heavy” pitch conditions at Gloucester could force Worcester Warriors to change their tactics tomorrow, insists head coach Carl Hogg.

Hogg believes Warriors will “look at different things” in the eagerly-awaited Aviva Premiership derby at Kingsholm (3pm).

Gloucester’s five-game winning home run came to an end on New Year’s Day when they conceded a late try in a 13-12 loss to Northampton Saints.

Warriors have picked up only one win at Gloucester in the top tier — a 13-6 triumph in April 2009.

They were pipped 24-22 at Kingsholm in November 2015 after being denied a penalty in front of Gloucester’s posts in the last play.

“I watched Gloucester’s game against Northampton last Sunday and the pitch looked pretty heavy,” said Hogg.

“I expect it to be reasonably heavy again and tactically we will have to look at different things that suit us and our game.”

Ex-Gloucester centre Ryan Mills will have the task of putting Warriors in the right areas of the field after starring in their 24-17 victory over Harlequins on the artificial pitch at Sixways last weekend.

Mills had not worn the number 10 jersey for Warriors in the Premiership for almost 12 months but made a host of tackles and kicked 14 points in a man-of-the-match display.

“We have had a lot of injury-enforced combinations at number 10 this season and that is something we have had to endure,” said Hogg.

“But Ryan and Michael Dowsett were great last weekend and pushed us in the right areas of the field and we were able to contain a Harlequins back three that was very attack-minded.

“We kicked strategically very well to take their threat out of the game.

“Ryan was outstanding. He had not played at 10 for a while and the way he came in and moved us strategically around the field was fantastic.”

Buoyed after their first league win since beating Newcastle Falcons 11-9 at Sixways at the beginning of October, Hogg has called the M5 derby “a wonderful opportunity” for Warriors to build momentum.

“Kingsholm is a wonderful opportunity to build from where we were last weekend,” said Hogg.

“We had a great reaction after the Bristol loss and managed to get a win in the bank.

“Life is a lot easier off the back of a win but the key thing is to build on it and that starts tomorrow.

“To keep that momentum going, we have to perform at the level we showed against Quins.”

Warriors have lost just one of their last four Premiership outings against the Cherry and Whites and will need to match Gloucester’s “intensity”.

“It’s about what we do,” said Hogg. “We have to make sure we go there with the right intensity.

“We know Bristol are finding some form but it’s about what we do, our next challenge and our next task.

“Winning against Quins was hugely significant for us because we rebounded really well after Boxing Day and showed a huge amount of character.”