THE most famous smile in National One rugby is back.

Chris Garrard -- a player whose dazzling tries have become synonymous with that Cheshire cat grin -- is firing again and, with the Premiership beckoning, just in time.

The Aussie winger is once again the main man at Sixways after, by his standards, a barren time of late.

A hat-trick of tries during Worcester's 69-33 win at Henley on Saturday continued his comeback following a desperate time with injury culminating in a month off this season for rehab.

Garrard underwent summer surgery to cure a nagging groin strain only to find the pain was still there early in the season as he struggled to recapture form. However, after coaches John Brain and Andy Keast gave him a month out to get himself right, Garrard is slowly getting back to his best. In a side which is now 18 points clear at the top, it would be easy to be complacent but Garrard insists Worcester are desperate to keep their 100 per cent record all season.

"Despite the fact that we've probably got the league wrapped up, we still want to win 26 games out of 26 this season," he said. "We do pride ourselves on our performances.

"The coaches and players have set high standards. The players have much more pride in themselves and their performances which goes against the cheque-book image of Worcester.

"Some guys, in the past, may have been at Worcester to collect the coin but this season, and last, it's been a totally different story. The guys have got one eye on the Premiership and want to pursue their goals. We have players who have been in the top flight and have come down a level purely to get back there. You can see with someone like Daren O'Leary that he's hungry to get back into the Premiership.

"We've also got players who, like me, have never experienced the Premiership and are equally as hungry to be there."

At one point this season, however, it looked as though Garrard was a million miles away from a potential Premiership deal, such was his form. Since his injury comeback, though, the former Queenslander has proved the doubters wrong.

"First and foremost, Worcester are playing in National One at present," he said. "We are not in the Premiership so there is no point in thinking any different. However, in the back of your mind you are wondering about next season.

"Guys have got mortgages to pay and they'd be lying if they didn't have one eye on the Premiership. It's just a matter now of seeing who the coaches want to keep and who they want to bring in. I'd love to stay at Worcester, obviously but the only control I have over the situation is my performances on the field and in training.

"I was happy with my finishing in the game at Henley and to get a hat-trick was very pleasing particularly after the season I've had. It's been a frustrating time but hopefully now that's all behind me and I can look forward to what should be a great end to the season."