AUCH have warned Worcester that they are determined to claim Euro glory.

The French side, who were relegated over the weekend a season after winning promotion, take on the Warriors in tomorrow's European Shield final.

And their New Zealand-born prop Jason Hooper believes they can put their domestic woes behind them by beating Worcester.

"We are feeling really positive about the end of the season," he said. "To win the European Shield would be massive. Despite our domestic league worries, a final is a final and European rugby is very important to us. We have worked really hard to earn our place in Oxford."

Hooper and his team-mates have been doing their homework on the Sixways club and the former Hurricanes man believes Auch will be well prepared for the Warriors.

"We have been watching Worcester and we know that they have a very strong pack and speed in the backs," he said. "They have done well this season as a newly-promoted team and we are not underestimating their abilities.

"Although it may seem that Worcester have a home advantage with the game being played in England, I don't think it makes much difference to us.

"We do travel quite well and in a final I don't think the venue really matters -- as long as it's not a home ground!

"We have really solid set- pieces, our pack is strong and mobile and although some of our playing style is a little unorthodox -- the Auch scrum-half has been the line-out thrower all season -- it is effective.

"To be honest, we are more concerned about the effect playing three games in seven days will have on us. The weather has started to get warm and the heat really fatigues the players.

"But we don't have any injuries and hopefully that will continue until a final that we are all looking forward to."