WHEN Cecil Duckworth's resolve began to waver in the summer, there was an air of tragic irony at Sixways.

The season -- which may have seemed one too far -- was also offering the greatest opportunity yet to reach what had previously looked agonisingly out of reach.

Now, after the Worcester chairman's bank account was nibbled into a little more, the Warriors look even hotter favourites for the National One title and promotion to the promised land.

The weekend 40-14 victory over pretenders to the crown Orrell made sure the Edge Hall Road club knew exactly what they were up against this season while Bristol's demise continued with a 45-11 home defeat to Birmingham & Solihull, now the gruesomely named Pertemps Bees.

So, it all begs the question of just who will be Worcester's main rival in the promotion race this season?

"The satisfying thing for us about Saturday's game was that we've played one of our main rivals and we've beaten them convincingly," said Worcester's director of rugby John Brain.

"Orrell really fancied their chances of coming to Sixways and winning. They were very confident that they would come to Worcester and take the points. In the end, they've gone away with nothing.

"The only thing they had was a bit of thinking to do."

Exeter with points machine Tony Yapp remain a threat while the top of the table Bees have to be looked at as contenders following two victories from their opening matches.

"We never thought Bristol would be contenders," added Worcester coach Andy Keast. "They will be tough at home once they get their young team working together properly. They have fantastic support and to get more than 4,000 for every home game really gives them an edge.

"But the Birmingham result didn't surprise us. We don't think Bristol will be contenders while you have to say that Birmingham are up there and should, with their fixture list, win most of their next few matches."

On paper then, there looks little to stop Worcester but in reality there is plenty.

The Sixways club remain the most hated team outside of the Premiership with every team wanting to be the one to beat rugby's glamour boys.

"We are the most hated team in the league," added Brain. "If you did a poll of the other teams in National One and asked the players which team they'd want to beat most, it would be Worcester.

"There is a lot of jealousy and bitterness towards us. What we have to do is come to terms with that and be professional. We cannot get ourselves in brawls and go down to other team's levels."

Discipline will once again be tested at Bedford on Saturday and Worcester could do with a clean game following their two yellows and one red card this season so far. After last season and Saturday's evidence against Orrell, Worcester have the talent and the hunger.

That one final ingredient is the professional capacity to put up with the most provocative opponent. If Worcester can get on top of their discipline, they will not only earn the right on the field to go up but will win a morale victory in the process.

Leeds and Rotherham have crushed Worcester's hopes in this league before. But, with those big guns now gone, the trick is to leave the self-destruct button well alone.

This is Worcester's title to win, not to lose.