DIRECTOR of rugby John Brain insists Worcester will have to beat Saracens on the final day of the season if they are to stay in the Guinness Premiership.

Despite losing to London Irish today, Warriors still have a one-point advantage over relegation rivals Northampton going into the final round of games.

But Brain is confident Saints will overcome Irish on their own ground and force his side to beat Saracens at Sixways on Saturday, April 28.

He declared: "We said before Sunday we thoroughly expect Northampton to win their last game of the season.

"That was ingrained in our players all week and I think it is what everyone believes - that they will win at Franklin's Gardens on the last day of the season. That is what we believe will happen.

"All the games kick-off at the same time and it is quite simple. If we win and they win, we are going to stay up.

"There is always a nagging feeling in the back of your mind it is going to come down to this. There's not much point talking about the game we just played. We have just got to focus on playing well in the Saracens game and winning that match."

Northampton's 35-29 loss at Wasps in the lunchtime kick-off meant Brain's side went into the clash at the Madejski Stadium with the chance to secure top-flight survival with a win and a try bonus.

They never threatened to score four tries and a 26-16 reverse meant they left Reading with no points at all.

Brain admitted his side were second-best to an Irish team who wore Worcester down on a hot day.

He said: "I think Irish had far more ball and far more territory than we did and control of the ball in conditions like that is key.

"Defending takes far more out of you than attacking and at the end we did too much defending. Our players did very well to come in at half-time just two points down."

Brain defended his decision to drop wing Aisea Havili and play Lee Best in his place in a relatively unfamiliar role for the former Bath player.

"We were concerned at the recent form of Aisea," said Brain. "We have not scored a lot of tries on that wing. I think Lee did a good job for us.

"He's played over 30 Premiership games at wing and we were concerned about the form of the incumbent in that position before this game."