JOHN Brain believes Worcester's Powergen Cup draw can offer redemption for his Worcester side.

The Sixways director of rugby ad-mits quite openly that the manner of Sunday's 25-15 defeat at London Irish was "embarrassing".

But, after seeing Worcester paired with the Exiles for next month's sixth round, salvation could be at hand.

"I was obviously pleased with the home draw," said Brain.

"It's an attractive game for the supporters and it offers the players a chance to make amends for what happened last Sunday because we just didn't perform at the Madejski Stadium.

"It's a good opportunity for the players. We believe it's a game that we can win and then there's a chance of progressing into the latter stages of the competition."

That competition, however, will undoubtedly play second fiddle to Brain's main priority.

"I've been asked this week to identify my priorities," he said.

"We've got the league, the Powergen Cup and the European Shield. Well, we have three priorities; number one -- the league, number two -- the league and number three -- the league.

"That's basically it. The cup will be a pressure-free game, at home, against London Irish and that's the way we'll view it. We'd like to progress but it's certainly not a priority. Saying that, though, any game we play at Sixways is important to win."

With the match coming hot on the heels of the Euro Shield adventure with Rovigo, selection issues will be judged nearer the time, but the cups could yet see some newer names come into the fray.

"Obviously, selection will be made within the context of injuries and how we are going at the time," said Brain.

"This game will be after two matches against Rovigo and, with the greatest of respect to them, they won't be anywhere near as strong as London Irish."

Meanwhile, Brain believes November will be a key month for Worcester as they try to take advantage of the Autumn international call-ups.

Leicester visit Sixways tomorrow in the Zurich Premiership without seven international players because of England and Ireland's games. And with matches to come against Northampton and London Wasps, Worcester could pick up some priceless points against marginally weakened opposition.

"It's a key period for Worcester and a key period for teams such as Leicester whose priority it is to win the Premiership," said Brain. "We go into tomorrow's game on the back of a very disappointing display at London Irish and we need to get that momentum back which was built up with our win over Harlequins and our games with Bath and Gloucester."

n Powergen Cup round six draw: Leicester Tigers v Gloucester; Sale Sharks v Plymouth Albion or Otley; Worcester v London Irish; Leeds Tykes v Coventry or Pertemps Bees; Northampton Saints v Bedford or Exeter; Bath v Harlequins; Waterloo or Bristol v Wasps; Saracens v Newcastle Falcons. Ties to be played the weekend of December 18-19.