JOHN Brain believes next month will shape Worcester's season and could yet decide their promotion dream.

The Sixways director of rugby has studied the run-ins of both the National One heavyweights and believes that January will be key for Worcester and Orrell as both slug it out for promotion.

The two come together for the perennial title showdown on January 17 but Brain also believes fixtures before and after that blockbuster could yet be crucial to both side's hopes.

"January is a critical month," he said. "If you look at the games for both clubs then you can say that after January, we will have a pretty good idea of where everyone is going.

"Obviously we come together on the 17th but we've got Otley a week before that and we know from experience just how tough they can be.

"After playing us, Orrell then have to travel to Plymouth and I believe that, on current form, they are the fourth best team in the league so that will be a test for them.

"What we know is that if we can stay unbeaten throughout January then it will put us in a very strong position for the rest of the season to the extent that we could maybe even afford to lose a game and still win the title.

"It's a crucial time for both clubs and we have to be absolutely focused on our opposition and our preparation."

Certainly, Worcester's run-in looks the easier of the two with Orrell still yet to visit Pertemps Bees, Plymouth, Bristol and Bedford Blues who can be a tough nut to crack on their Goldington Road ground.

"We have still got to go to Exeter in March and that will be a tough game for us," added Brain.

"We know that they will improve this season, they have to and it is never easy going down there. We've also got a local derby in Coventry to go to which is a test of character.

"I think, though, that after 12 wins from 12 games we can be fairly happy with the way things have gone. We've dropped three points so far but if you'd have offered me that at the start of the season then, no doubt, I would have taken it.

"We've been to Pertemps Bees, Bristol, Plymouth, Otley and Bedford and won. We've beaten our main rivals and have a three point lead at the top. So, we're fairly happy but we also know that we want to keep making progress.

"There are aspects that we need to improve upon and we'll be working on that in the coming weeks."

Injuries are once again beginning to creep into the Sixways squad but Brain is confident that, come January 17 against Orrell, Worcester will be near to full strength.

"We've had a few injuries in the past couple of weeks," he said. "We're confident, though, that Werner Swanepoel will be back for Coventry next week and if not for that one, definitely Otley on January 10.

"Duncan Roke should be back for that game or if not Otley then Orrell while Chris Garrard will be back in the mix for those matches. It's certainly not on the level that it was last season and, come next month, we're hopeful that most injuries will have cleared up."