HARLEQUINS' former Worcester second row James Percival is looking forward to taking on his old club when the two sides meet at The Stoop on Saturday (3pm).

Percival came up through the Sixways academy, before moving to Northampton Saints at the end of the 2004/05 season.

The 24-year-old, who missed all of the 05/06 after suffering a broken neck playing for Saints in a pre-season friendly with Munster, said: "Worcester, like Gloucester and Northampton, are cities which are fully focused on their rugby, unlike many other places where it takes second place to football. They have great crowds and support, and I enjoyed my time there.

"We've had a good few weeks away from matches now, but it is time to get back competing. We were allowed a week off to go and refuel, but then it was back to the classroom.

"On the pitch, we have been training hard and are all back in the right mind frame."

Quins won 10-7 at Sixways in December and Percival added: "I think Worcester will be coming here with a lot to prove. They will feel they were unlucky to have lost at our last meeting and this time they will be expecting to beat us.

"Hopefully we can play the way we know we can play and send them back to Worcester with nothing more than a few bruises."