DIRECTOR of rugby Gary Gold has “faith” his Worcester Warriors players can execute their game-plan against Aviva Premiership relegation rivals Bristol.

Gold believes Warriors have stuck to the script on “one or two occasions” since he arrived at Sixways last month.

Gold says Warriors will need to adopt a positive approach heading into all matches if he remains at the club next season.

Warriors are second-from-bottom in the table and just two points above basement boys Bristol with just six matches remaining.

“It’s an important fixture,” said Gold, whose Warriors’ side lost 24-14 at Northampton Saints last Saturday.

“I haven’t gone into a game yet thinking that (we are not going to win) and I don’t want to.

“If I remain at the club I don’t want to ever think like that.

“You have to believe in your players, game-plan and have faith in them that they can go out and execute it better. We have done that on one or two occasions and we haven’t on others.”

Warriors were outstanding in Gold’s first top tier game at the helm as they recorded a deserved 24-18 home victory against defending champions Saracens.

Worcester then picked up a try-scoring bonus point from a high-scoring 48-32 defeat against an impressive Exeter Chiefs.

Gold said: “For 70 minutes against Exeter I thought we executed very well but for 10 minutes we went missing and paid the price.

“Sunday is a big fixture. It’s important for us not only because we want to get back to winning ways but because of the consequences of the table."

Vastly experienced referee Wayne Barnes will take charge of Sunday’s relegation battle.

Barnes was in the middle when 14-man Bristol recorded a 28-20 victory over Warriors at Ashton Gate on Boxing Day.

“It’s important that a fixture like this doesn’t go down to errors for either team by the official,” said Gold, who is initially contracted to Warriors until the end of the season.

“I have known Barnesy for a very long time and I think his first game as a professional referee involved the team I coached.

“He’s very astute and knows exactly what’s going on and it won’t even be a big occasion for him.

“He will just go about his job. Thankfully, it is one area I am not remotely worried about going into this game. We’ve got a referee with a wonderful pedigree who will be refereeing us."