RETURNING Worcester Warriors full-back Chris Pennell is ready to put his “hand up for selection” for Sunday’s mouth-watering relegation showdown against Bristol at Sixways (3pm).

Pennell made his first appearance since Worcester’s 28-20 Boxing Day defeat at Bristol in last Saturday's 24-14 Aviva Premiership loss at Northampton Saints.

The 29-year-old came on for Perry Humphreys after 51 minutes and gave an energetic and lively performance at full-back at Franklin’s Gardens.

“I looked forward to being back and tried to do my bit for the boys,” he said.

“They have been going really well over the last few weeks and there has been a real step up in intensity which has been great to see.

“I really wanted to get out there and contribute.”

Worcester-born Pennell suffered a rare heel problem in Warriors’ 57-22 defeat against Exeter Chiefs in November but limped on until the Ashton Gate loss.

It kept him out of action for two months.

“It’s such a rare injury and there’s next to nothing written about it in textbooks and there’s no evidence of it in rugby so it took a little while to be diagnosed,” said Pennell.

“I was able to do some bits up to a certain level but after the Bristol game we realised there was something major going on so it caused us to press pause and re-assess things.

“I had eight weeks out. It feels great now so I was really pleased to have got through 30 minutes and ready to put my hand up for selection.”

Pennell was taken out in the air, winning a penalty, after claiming a high ball moments after stepping on the field against Saints.

“It was about getting back but for the lads I was really disappointed because there were a number of guys with big milestones," said Pennell, who has played just six times in the top-tier this term due to injury.

“Bows (Ryan Bower) had his 50th game (for the club) and Lamby (Ryan Lamb) has just had a little boy.

“Dows (Phil Dowson) will be going back to Northampton next season (as a coach) and we really wanted to put down a marker for those lads and we feel like we missed the opportunity.”

Pennell believed Warriors conceded too many penalties against Saints and didn’t retain possession well enough to put pressure on the hosts.

Warriors opened superbly, Josh Adams finishing off a strike move involving Jackson Willison and Wynand Olivier to put Warriors ahead after five minutes.

“We didn’t give ourselves enough opportunities like that (Adams’ try),” said Pennell.

“We have shown this season what we can do off first phase attack in the right areas of the field.

“We didn’t have enough of them and you have to give some credit to Northampton for the pressure they put on us.

“Ultimately we gave away too many penalties so we couldn’t establish field position and we coughed the ball over too many times in the second half to get a stranglehold on the game.”

Worcester trailed 24-10 until the final seconds when Bryce Heem powered over for a try, converted by Lamb.

Warriors are now gearing up for the visit of basement boys Bristol in a must-win match in their fight for Premiership survival.

“We are not a side to give up regardless of the circumstances,” said Pennell.

“We will put in 100 per cent effort until the end and that stands us in really good stead going into Sunday’s battle.”