WORCESTER Rugby Club are on course for a Powergen Cup showdown with English and European champions Leicester Tigers.

The in-form Sixways club need to hurdle the challenges of Manchester, who they have already beaten once this season (66-22), and Waterloo or Halifax to set up the sixth round clash at Welford Road on the weekend of December 21.

Dean Richards' all-conquering Tigers side provide the benchmark for English rugby and Worcester's director of rugby John Brain admits it is a huge draw for the club.

"The Leicester game is a carrot for the players and I'm sure if we beat Manchester and then progress to play the Tigers it will be a useful exercise," he said.

"It will be a benchmark for us to measure ourselves against the top team in England and Europe.

"Crowds there are never less than 10,000 and it will be a very good experience for everyone in the squad.

"It is a shame it is not at Sixways but playing the League and Heineken champions will be a massive boost for the guys to beat Manchester and then Waterloo or Halifax."

Worcester destroyed Bracknell 73-5 in the last round and Brain will continue to use the Powergen Cup to pursue the policy of rotation and give all members of his squad some match action.

"One of the benefits of the cup rounds is that it gives us the opportunity to rest and rotate players. It also enables us to maintain the momentum and good form which we have been showing in the league," he said.

"Interestingly on Saturday against Bracknell we started with just two of the players that had begun the game against London Welsh and we were still able to be 52-0 up at half time and go on to win 73-5."

The home fourth round tie against Manchester is on November 9, while the winners will be away to Waterloo or Halifax in the fifth round on November 30.