THE “expectations” have been made “clear” to Worcester Warriors players ahead of Sunday’s showdown with basement boys Bristol, insists director of rugby Gary Gold.

Gold says “harsh words” have been spoken in Warriors’ camp this week and the players have “delivered” in training.

It is the biggest game of the campaign for both teams in the battle for Aviva Premiership survival.

Gold believes second-from-bottom Warriors are ready to tackle their relegation rivals at Sixways.

“We’ve made it clear what the expectations of the boys are and so far they have delivered,” said Gold.

“They are up for it and that’s all we can do. They have delivered (in training) and it gives you confidence. Confidence is a big thing going into the weekend, coupled with the fact we are at home.

“It looks like being a sell-out crowd and we have a wonderful bunch of supporters.

“I don’t think getting up for game is going to be our problem. We will be up for the game and we just need to be very clinical.”

Gold was disappointed with Warriors as they slipped to a 24-14 defeat against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens last Saturday.

He believes Warriors’ penalty count of 16 was far too many in the match.

Gold also rued his side’s failure to clear their lines as Saints applied pressure.

“We allowed Northampton into our own 22 12 times while we allowed Saracens into our own 22 three times,” said Gold.

“It was a fantastic defensive effort (last weekend) and the guys worked really hard but eventually the dam broke.

“We had one or two missed kicks but our discipline let us down and we lost one or two line-outs and that put us under pressure.

"We had a couple of opportunities which we didn’t take with ball in hand and by and large it was a bad day at the office."

Bristol recorded a 28-20 victory when the teams met at Ashton Gate on Boxing Day.

Gold anticipates another “tight game” against “very well prepared” opponents.

Bristol sealed a 12-11 home victory against Bath last Sunday.

“Bristol were very good last weekend and played very well,” said Gold.

“They’ve also had a change of personnel and that seemed to have made a big difference.

“They will be very well prepared and they will come here with good clarity in what they need to do and it is going to come down to small margins.

“There will be a silly decision made by one of the players or there will be an execution error that will count in someone’s favour.”

The former Bath, London Irish and Newcastle Falcons coach has given Warriors a “simple” game-plan with “less options” since pitching up at Sixways last month.

“When I first arrived a month ago my only goal was to concentrate on Worcester getting better,” said Gold.

“Bristol are a rugby team and we will have to handle them the way we have handled any other team.

“We have to be a lot more clinical in the areas we want to execute.

“We’ve had some harsh words and this weekend’s game will come down to small margins."

He added: "We have to be the team who are better disciplined.

"I think it’s going to be a tight game.”