DIRECTOR of rugby Gary Gold has warned his Worcester Warriors squad to expect a “full metal jacket” from Northampton Saints today (3pm).

He predicts Saints to come out firing at Franklin’s Gardens after their 46-31 Aviva Premiership defeat at Newcastle Falcons last Sunday.

Gold is urging Worcester’s forwards to live with Saints’ “physicality” and “impose” themselves on the eighth-placed hosts.

Warriors have yet to collect a point away from home in the Premiership this season.

However, second-from-bottom Worcester have bagged a five-point return from their last two home matches against defending champions Saracens and third-placed Exeter Chiefs.

“It will be a very physical game and Northampton will come with a full metal jacket,” said Gold.

“We know what Saints’ pack is like and how abrasive they will be.

“They will drive and be very direct with their forwards. Our challenge is going to be to live with their physicality and not only match it but hopefully impose ourselves.

“That will be a big challenge because I don’t necessarily think that has been a forte of Worcester’s this season.”

Warriors fell 48-32 to Chiefs last Saturday and have conceded an average of 40 away league points this term.

Gold says the players are fully aware they have to get their defensive duties right.

“We have to get our defence right and quickly,” he said. “If we don’t we are in for a long day. Saints are a big, strong powerful team who understand what getting over the gain-line is all about.

“If we are passive in any way from a defensive point of view, not only in our physicality but in our work-rate, it’s going to be tough.

“There’s no doubt in my mind defence is the one area the team need to improve in most significantly.

“I hope there’s a better understanding (defensive). You try to put time into an area where maybe there hasn’t been that much time and attention. Hopefully you get some due rewards.

“But you are not going to fix it overnight. There are enough games left in the Premiership for us to improve week by week and hopefully that improvement will be significant enough.”

Trying to improve the conditioning of the squad is another aspect Warriors have put a lot of effort into “over the last month”.

Paddy Anson is the new head of strength and conditioning, replacing Chris Hart who was put on gardening leave.

“We have been doing a lot over the last month on conditioning and there’s a marked improvement by the players but we will certainly have a tough day at the office,” added Gold.

“I hope we can learn the lessons from last weekend. If we can stick to our plan and are very well disciplined we will be in with a shout.

“I didn’t necessarily know it (conditioning improvement) was needed as I wasn’t here. But I am getting feedback from the coaches who felt it was needed. The changes were imposed before I arrived.”