HEINEKEN Cup-winning fly-half Paul Warwick admits playing in a side struggling at the bottom of the table has taken some getting used to.

During a stellar career with Irish giants Munster, which also featured two Celtic League successes as well as the 16-13 European triumph over Toulouse, the 32-year-old Aussie has become accustomed to title challenges rather than relegation battles.

After two years with Stade Francais in the French Top 14, Warwick signed for Warriors and says the Sixways side’s struggles so far this term have been a surprise.

“I’m not at all regretting coming to Worcester, the atmosphere around the squad is still really good,” he said.

“I’ve achieved some things during my career, which has been fantastic, but to be at the bottom end of things — and obviously relegation is a real possibility — I don’t want that in my career and that is something that will drive me and the guys around me.

“If we can just grind out a tough win somewhere, that will get the monkey off our back but, more importantly, we need to be competitive and aggressive in games which is what we’ve lacked so far.

“When I signed for Worcester, I thought we would be doing better than we have so far, which is frustrating, but I’m in it now and I have to make the best of it.

“Whatever happens, I will be labelled as a part of it and I want to do the most I can to have a hand in changing our fortunes.

“It has been a little bit of a change coming here from my previous teams which have usually been competing at the top.”

Warwick added: “I have been fortunate to play with some fantastic players and we at Worcester are a very young side — they are keen and enthusiastic — but probably not there on an intellectual level.

“That is something I’ve tried to help with by stepping up and being a bit more vocal, whereas in a big team, everyone is talking, so you don’t have to have as big a role.”