WORCESTER Warriors operations manager Mike Robins insists ground developments at Sixways will be complete by the time the new Guinness Premiership campaign gets under way next month.

The facelift of the East Stand will not be finished in time for the first friendly with Viadana on Friday, August 11 (8pm) but should be ready for the visit of Calvisano two weeks later for a game the club hope to use as a dress rehearsal for the opening Premiership match with Bristol.

"It will be ready for the start of the season on September 2," said Robins. "It never was going to be ready for the first friendly."

Work has been carried out at the Pershore Lane site over the summer which will see new facilities in the East Stand at Sixways and the capacity nudged over the 10,000 mark.

There will be further major developments next summer and the club have already started to make provisions for a park and ride which will be built on the site.

"We have just started the enabling operation for the park and ride scheme," said Robins. "We are moving the brook which will give us more space to put the North Stand, which will go backwards over the present driveway."

Robins also confirmed that over 5,000 season tickets have been sold for next season. There are only around another 100 remaining.

He said: "I think sales are very much in line with last season and in line with the extra capacity."

Meanwhile, Luctonians have been drawn away to Chester in round one of the EDF Energy National Trophy.

In the Intermediate Cup, Bromsgrove travel to Sheffield Tigers, while Malvern host Old Northamptonians. All matches will be played on the weekend of October 28.