UTILITY-back Calum MacRae wants Worcester Warriors to use the LV Cup as a distraction from the Guinness Premiership so the Sixways side can rediscover their top form.

The former Edinburgh man was drafted into the Warriors team for the 14-3 league defeat to Newcastle Falcons at Kinsgston Park last weekend when Aussie full-back Chris Latham was forced to pull out late on through illness.

Despite that defeat, MacRae believes today’s re-match with the Falcons (12.30pm) is the perfect opportunity to bounce back to winning ways.

The 29-year-old, who was called up to the Scotland squad for the 2008 Six Nations Championship, said: “We were all disappointed with the way we played and the fact that we didn’t win the game last weekend.

“The guys felt we let ourselves down a little bit and we now have two weeks in the LV Cup when we want to put that right.

“We are keen to make strides in this competition, but the Guinness Premiership double header with Bath and Saracens is a big focus for us now.

“I was reasonably pleased with how I performed on a personal level. I had one or two things to tidy up at the back in the first-half, but I felt a little bit like a passenger in the second-half as Newcastle kept it tight.”

MacRae has close links with the Falcons coaching staff having worked with them in the past, but insists there will be no room for friendship come kick-off this afternoon.

He added: “I actually know the whole management team at Newcastle as they coached me at Borders. There was a bit of friendly rivalry with Steve Bates, Alan Tait and Stuart Grimes before the game at Kingston Park.

“That is not going to change today.

“They will want to put two performances together to show they are moving up as a team.

“We have to play rugby in the right areas of the field and have some clarity to make sure we give our fans something to cheer about.”