WORCESTER will kick off their 2006-2007 Guinness Premiership campaign at Sixways with a showdown against M5 rivals Bristol.

Premier Rugby have again adopted the policy of staging a number of derbies on the opening day.

Elsewhere, Gloucester take on Bath, while all four teams from the capital will take part in the London double header at Twickenham.

Last season, Worcester opened up with an ugly stalemate against Gloucester but director of rugby John Brain does not believe it matters when you play local rivals.

"I understand why it's done from a marketing point of view but from a rugby perspective it doesn't make an awful lot of difference," he said. "Those games have got to be played some time."

In the upcoming season, the Cherry and Whites visit Sixways in the middle of October, while the return fixture is at the end of February.

At this stage, Premier Rugby have not confirmed the exact dates of most of the games but have allocated weekends.

The end of season play-offs will take place in the first two weeks of May to allow time to prepare for the World Cup.

Premier Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty said: "With the Rugby World Cup next year, the demands on our fixture list have been extraordinary. I am grateful to all 12 clubs for working collectively to create a fixture list that works for the league as a whole."

The Powergen Cup will have a similar structure to last season with the first two rounds being back-to-back at the end of September.

It is expected that two of Worcester's three pool games will be at home.

FIXTURES

Sep 1/2/3: Bristol Rugby (h)

Sep 8/9/10: Newcastle Falcons (a)

Sep 15/16/17: Sale Sharks (h)

Sep 22/23/24: Bath Rugby (a)

Oct 13/14/15: Gloucester Rugby (h)

Nov 3/4/5: Leicester Tigers (a)

Nov 10/11/12: Northampton Saints (h)

Nov 17/18/19: NEC Harlequins (a)

Nov 24/25/26: Saracens (a)

Dec 22: London Irish (h)

Dec 26/27: NEC Harlequins (h)

Dec 31/Jan 1: Northampton Saints (a)

Jan 6/7: London Wasps (a)

Jan 26/27/28: London Wasps (h)

Feb 16/17/18: Leicester Tigers (h)

Feb 23/24/25: Gloucester Rugby (a)

Mar 2/3/4: Bath Rugby (h)

Mar 9/10/11: Sale Sharks (a)

Mar 16/17/18: Newcastle Falcons (h)

Apr 6/7/8: Bristol Rugby (a)

Apr 13/14/15: London Irish (a)

Apr 28/19: Saracens (h)