HEAD coach John Brain has been delighted with Worcester Rugby Club's table-topping start to the season.

Going into today's National One clash at Sixways, the Gold'n'Blues sat proudly on top of the league, already with a win over title rivals Rotherham under their belts.

And the former Gloucester stalwart, despite disappointments over two missing bonus points from recent away matches, believes his team will go from strength to strength as the season pans out.

"If we were to come out of today's match with five points," he said. "We'd have 27 points out of 30 and for me, if someone had offered me that at the start of the season I would have been happy with that.

"I've always said, it will take some time to get our strongest combination on the pitch playing and firing on all cylinders.

"We have had quite a few injuries so far -- Craig Chalmers for example.

"We have played eight games, including pre-season matches, and he's completed one out of eight. He is many people's first choice fly half.

"We've also had Elton Moncrieff unavailable who is also an important figure in the squad. I have to say, however, that Richard Smith has been excellent so far this season.

"Now we are getting players like Alistair Murdoch and Scott Barrow back as well, it improves competition for places.

"Therefore, I think we will get better as we play more together and we get the right people playing on the pitch.

"There is certainly much more to come from us this season," said Brain.