WORCESTER Warriors boss Gary Gold has described Sunday’s challenge against Wasps “as big as it’s going to get” (2.30pm).

The star-studded outfit are five points clear at the top of the Aviva Premiership and unbeaten in their last 15 matches at the Ricoh Arena.

Wasps have also reached the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup and boast a lethal back division containing flyers Kurtley Beale, Christian Wade and Willie Le Roux.

Warriors are second-bottom but sealed a crucial 41-24 win against relegation rivals Bristol in their last top-tier outing.

“It’s as big as it’s going to get for this group of players,” said Warriors director of rugby Gold.

“But it’s exciting. We have tried putting in a lot of improvements.

“We have made some good ground and this weekend we will see how much ground we’ve made.

“Wasps have great coaching staff and an amazing rugby team.”

Warriors have picked an unchanged line-up for their trip to Coventry as they seek a first away win in the division since toppling Harlequins last March.

Although Warriors recorded a 24-18 home win over Saracens in Gold’s first Premiership match  in charge, he expects a much stiffer challenge.

“We were at home (against Saracens) as well and, with respect, the Six Nations was on as well and the England boys are back for Wasps now,” said Gold.

“I think it’s probably fair to say this is a tougher challenge (than Saracens) and we don’t have an away record to talk of and it’s one of the things we definitely want to rectify.

“Whether we will be able to get it right this weekend is going to be a really tough challenge.

“But we are up for it and excited to go there as a group and unchanged, so hopefully a bit of continuity will give us a bit of a reward."

Two late tries from Wasps floored Warriors on their last league visit to the Ricoh in January last year as the hosts grabbed a 32-22 victory.

Gold says Warriors have trained hard for the contest this week and is looking forward to the captain’s run tomorrow.

“I am very happy with the way it’s gone this week so far and the big challenge for this group is consistency,” said Gold.

“We shouldn’t celebrate the victories or commiserate for too long because the issue is we are still in a relegation fight – that’s the reality. I can’t emphasise that enough.

“Bristol and us have five games to go and Warriors have to try to win a couple of games to ensure we keep our buffer over them.

“If we don’t (get a couple of wins) and they do, then we are back in the fight.

“We need to worry about our next game against Wasps and it’s critically important we keep our feet on the ground."