COLIN Jackson believes Bedford have a mountain to climb if they are to pull off a shock win against Worcester Rugby Club at Sixways tomorrow.

The director of rugby at Goldington Road rates Worcester as the number one side in National League Division One and believes it is a case of David v Goliath.

Jackson, who took over from Alistair Murdoch in June, said the club were in the process of consolidation and believed talk of a swift return to the Premiership after last season's relegation was premature.

He said: "When I got here in the summer, we didn't have any players. We could not hang on to the top players because of the relegation and the financial repercussions. We have brought in some overseas players but the bulk of the team is local talent that we have brought in.

"It is definitely a time of rebuilding for us and it is a massive test for us at Worcester."

The New Zealander dismisses any talk of a mini Southern Hemisphere battle however, as Aussie Adrian Skeggs's side take on the Kiwi's boys.

He said: "New Zealanders and Australians support each other more than many people think and it will be the case at the weekend. It's Worcester v Bedford not New Zealand v Australia."

Bedford have had a mixed start to the season and lie ninth after two defeats in three games.

Worcester will not give a debut to new boy Cameron Mather who signed at Worcester yesterday. The Scottish international, who joined from Edinburgh Reivers, will come into contention for next Saturday's trip to Coventry.

Andy Collins makes his first start of the season while Laulala Langkilde comes back into the side after recovering from a groin strain. Tony Windo and Alistair McLean drop to the bench.

Worcester: Back; Tuipulotu, Langkilde, Murdoch, Baxter; Va'a, Pellow; Collins, Lamerton, Lyman, Zaltzman, Sims, Evans, Carter, Fryday.