Worcester Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan has warned his players that they cannot afford to lose against Newcastle Falcons on Sunday.
The Warriors, who are currently bottom of the Aviva Premiership table, face the side directly above them in the league this weekend.
They travel Kingston Park with the knowledge that defeat will all but confirm their relegation to the Championship.
"The pressure is on us because we are going into a game where we can't afford to lose, because if we do then that is pretty much it," Ryan is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.
"The team has progressed massively. We can see tangible differences from what we were seeing several months ago. They are giving their all.
"There is a real clear buy-in to the team ethos that we are trying to build. We just have to get them fresh enough and in the right space to give each game a go."
Ryan was appointed in his current position at the club in April 2013.
