CROCKED Kai Horstmann is gunning for a return to full fitness so he can do his best to help Worcester Warriors make amends for last season’s European Challenge Cup heart-break.

The Sixways side, who kick off this year’s competition at Petrarca Rugby in pool three this afternoon, went desperately close to European glory last May, eventually losing 24-16 to Bath at Kingsholm.

And back-row ace Horst-mann, who is hoping to have recovered from a knee injury in time for next weekend’s ECC trip to Bucuresti, is adamant the title is a top priority for the club.

“We are taking the European Challenge Cup very seriously,” said Horstmann. “It was tremendously frustrating to lose in the final back in May and we want to have another shot at the title and win the trophy.

“Playing in the Heineken Cup is the next stage for us to target — and there is that carrot there for the European Challenge Cup winners — while it is a long time since the club picked up any silverware.”

Horstmann admits Warriors have been handed an interesting pool draw this season.

“We have a varied mix in our pool of an Italian, a Romanian and a French side and that should make all our matches interesting experiences,” he added. “What we are after is a similar solid and winning start to the group stages as last season as that ultimately earned us home ties in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, which is so important once you are in the knock-out stages.

“The players do not know a great deal about Petrarca — which means we are going a bit into the unknown — but our analysis team will have done their homework and will fill the players in on what they can expect.

“We now have two European weekends followed by the last two rounds of the EDF group stage, so it is vital we build on this and get some consistency going in our game.

“These European Challenge Cup matches are coming at a good time for us and we know we have to make that strong start if we want to go all the way to the final again.”