Rugby Union
Skipper still eyeing Heineken Cup spot

Buy photos » Warriors skipper Chris Pennell is set to start at full back against Saracens on Sunday. Picture by Ian Smith.

CAPTAIN Chris Pennell still holds out hope Worcester Warriors can secure a place in next season's Heineken Cup as he aims to help drive his team on to finish in the Aviva Premiership top six.

The defeat to Stade Francais in Paris on Saturday dashed any hopes of Richard Hill's men qualifying for Europe's top rugby competition via the Amlin Challenge Cup.

But Pennell believes all is not lost and it is still possible for Warriors, who are currently lying ninth and six points off sixth placed Exeter Chiefs, to finish strong enough to secure a Heineken Cup spot.

"We are obviously gutted we are not going to continue in the knock out stages of the Amlin Challenge Cup. It was a big ask for us to go there and win by more than eight points but it certainly wasn’t out of our reach," he said.

"We had a real opportunity for people to sit up and take note that Warriors are going places. We know we are going forward and moving on as a group behind closed doors but it would have been nice to do it on that stage.

"We want to win as many games as possible. We want to finish as high as we can in the Premiership and really try and put together our best finish to the season.

"Certainly we wouldn’t rule out qualifying for the Heineken Cup, it is achievable to finish in the top half of the table.

"If we can keep putting in good performances and keep winning games then never say never.

The 24-year-old, who featured in the final 15 minutes in Paris, has had a difficult couple of years due to injury.

But he is expected to start at full back against Saracens at Vicarage Road in the LV=Cup on Sunday, and is determined to tighten his grip on the number 15 jersey.

"I am not struggling with any little niggles at the moment, so it is great to be back involved and starting in the last few Premiership games," Pennell added.

"All I need to do is just keep putting my hands up, keep doing what I am doing and make that 15 jersey mine again."