SIX years after making the move from Gloucester, Tony Windo finally returns to Kingsholm tomorrow.

It wasn't supposed to be like this when the prop made up his mind to join Worcester back in 1999. A quick move down the road and, in two years, Bob's your uncle - Premiership rugby at Sixways.

Ultimately, it took a little longer and, at the ripe old age of 35, the battle-hardened loosehead is back where he began his career as the Warriors tackle the Cherry and Whites in what promises to be an epic encounter.

"It's a special game for me," said Windo.

"I'm born and bred Gloucester. I still live there, my family live there and I can't wait for the game.

"After we won promotion and I saw the fixture list, it was the one game I looked at. It will be my first time back there after six years so I'm really looking forward to it.

"The plan was a year or two maximum out of the Premiership and then promotion with Worcester. In the end, it's been six years so it makes tomorrow all the more special.

"What will be nice is the fact that I'll be contributing to the game. You don't want to go back there as some old fella they are just wheeling out!"

Windo certainly contributed the first time these two came together in the Premiership back in October. The Warriors went down 18-13 but it was Windo's opportunist try, mid-way through the first-half, which will stick in the memory for years to come.

"It's nice to score one from 50 yards out!" he said.

"It was a great memory but it was still disappointing that we didn't take more from the game. It was one we could have won and that's the way we still look at it."

But what exactly is Windo's secret of longevity? Year in, year out he keeps churning out the appearances and even when the hits get harder, he's still the first name on the Worcester team-sheet and that's not because he wears the number one shirt.

"It's a lot to do with good fortune. Injuries play a big part and a lot of that is down to luck," he said.

"You've got to train hard and look after yourself the best you possibly can.

"In the pre-professional days, we used to enjoy ourselves and, to be fair, you still get the odd opportunity to enjoy yourself now.

"Phil Richards (Worcester's fitness coach) is very knowledgeable on fitness and nutrition and if you can take that on board, then it certainly prolongs your career.

"I'm still enjoying the game and, if Worcester still want me, I'll carry on. I think the time to stop is when you don't enjoy it anymore.

"Naturally, it takes a bit of a toll on the body. Sunday's not much fun around my house! But come Tuesday, after some weights and conditioning, the stiffness is gone and you're ready to go again. It probably does take about half a day more now to get over it but that's just natural.

"The Premiership is a lot more physical than National One, there's no doubt about it. The hits you take when you engage the scrum are that much more intense.

"People are bigger, heavier and stronger so, whatever age you are, you're going to feel stiff with taking that sort of pounding.

"The thing that keeps me going is when I talk to some of the younger guys. They're in the same boat and I'm not feeling any worse than them. That helps me out because if I'd come in on Monday with aches and pains and they felt fine, I'd be a bit aggrieved."

Thirteen games into the season and Worcester still have their heads above the Premiership relegation waters. And that makes it all the more enjoyable for Windo who didn't want a quick return to National One.

"I've enjoyed the season because we've had some good wins and we've run a number of sides, including Gloucester, very close," he said.

"We're making a good fist of this campaign and we're certainly not just hanging on by the skin of our teeth.

"Somebody asked me the other day where we were in the league and I told them we were 10 points off Gloucester! We're two wins away from being next to one of the best sides in Europe and that's how I look at it.

"Tomorrow's a big challenge but it was the same when we went to Northampton and nobody gave us a chance there. We'll go out all guns blazing and see what happens.

"What I'd ask of the Worcester support is to go out there and match the Gloucester crowd for noise. They did it at Sixways, where I thought they were magnificent, and they can match them at Kingsholm. We need them to get behind us and be as vocal as they possibly can. That's all we can ask of them and we'll try our best on the pitch.

"If we can do something at Kingsholm then nowhere will hold any fears for us anymore."