IGNACIO Mieres says he is thriving on the challenge of trying to get the nod at fly-half for Worcester Warriors' Aviva Premiership opener against Leicester Tigers.

The Argentinian summer recruit from Exeter Chiefs, 26, is battling with fellow new Warrior Paul Warwick, who joined from Stade Francais, and Danny Gray for the number 10 jersey vacated by Andy Goode.

All have been eager to impress Dean Ryan over the pre-season programme and it won’t be long before the new director of rugby makes his choice for the trip to Welford Road a week tomorrow.

“Every team always has at least three good fly-halves,” said Mieres who came off the bench in last Saturday’s 23-19 warm-up defeat at Ospreys.

“There is Paul, Danny and myself and I think the three of us are working very hard and want to play.

“You can see it by watching every training session, everybody just gives 100 per cent and then it’s up to Dean Ryan to choose the one he thinks is in better shape or is better for the team.

“Because he’s a new coach, everybody has to work hard to get a spot in the team and you can see a big competition to get starting shirts.

“It’s a healthy competition. The three of us want to play and we’ll give 100 per cent in training and games to try to start the season.”

Mieres added: “The relationship is very good, being fly-halves we always discuss how we should do things and how we can improve.

“It’s an open conversation always so I think that is positive for us as players and for the team.”

Capped six times by his country, play-maker Mieres is also hoping his switch to Sixways will help bring the best out of him.

He spent three years at Exeter, scoring 292 points for the Sandy Park side, and will look to continue that with Worcester.

Mieres, who has also played for Stade Francais, said: “The challenge of coming here and rewriting the story of Worcester just excited me a lot and I thought it was a great move for me.

“The club was rebuilding itself because of so many changes and it’s a club that has everything to be successful.

“The set-up is amazing, it’s a big stadium and the facilities are great.

“They are a good group of boys, they have integrated me quickly and are very friendly.”