CLIVE Griffiths is demanding that his Worcester Warriors players make home advantage pay when they host Newcastle Falcons in the Guinness Premiership tonight (8pm).

The Sixways head-coach ac-knowledges the north-east outfit are struggling with in-juries, but believes that could have a galvanising effect.

The former Wales full-back said: “We’ve got to make sure we make home advantage count — there’s a great crowd at Sixways and a fantastic atmosphere.

“We’ve done our homework on them and they will only have a five-day turn-around for the game, so we’ve got to make that count.

“We were in total control of the two games we played against Newcastle at Sixways last year, but there is a more determined look about them this year — a nuggety, north-east attitude to their game.

“We want to pick up back-to-back wins now as we feel we’re in a false postition. We know we can play a good brand of rugby as well as putting our foot on the ball and playing a solid, kick-to-the-corners type of game,” added Griffiths.

Warriors have made one change to their starting line-up from the side that won 17-9 at Sale Sharks last Friday with scrum-half Matt Powell replacing Ryan Powell (knee).

Summer arrival Ben Jones is named on the bench as War-riors hunt a first league victory on home soil this term.

Chris Fortey keeps his starting spot at hooker, although Tongan front-rower Aleki Lut-ui returns to the replacements’ bench after missing the trip to Edgeley Park.

Griffiths added: “As gallantly as the youngsters have tried, it is great to have a back row back of Pat Sanderson, Kai Horstmann and Netani Talei — they’re all top-class players in their own right.

“We can also now back that up with Craig Gillies and Greg Rawlinson in the second row, with Tevita Taumoepeau, Chris Fortey, who had a fantastic game at Sale, and the ever-improving Matt Mullan up front.

“We’ve worked hard on our defence recently. We’ve only hit our goal of a 90 per cent tackle completion rate three times this season and we managed 94 per cent completion at Sale.

“You’re in a good position if you do that. Once you start dropping below, you can be chasing the game.” Warriors: Latham; Pennell, Rasmussen, Tuitupou, Benja-min; M Jones, M Powell; Mullan, Fortey, Taumoepeau, Rawlinson, Gillies, Talei, Sanderson (c), Horstmann. Replacements: Horsman, Lu-tui, Bowley, Cox, B Jones, Crichton, Gear.

n The new Kukri superstore, created as part of the £8million development at Sixways this year, opens its doors for the first time tonight before the official launch in December.