WORCESTER Warriors will be in good shape for next season’s challenges in the Aviva Premiership, insists former Sixways lock James Percival.

The ex-Northampton Saints and Harlequins powerhouse is heading to French Top 14 outfit Grenoble later this month after four years with Worcester.

The 31-year-old, who had two spells with Warriors, was outstanding as Dean Ryan’s men clinched promotion to the Premiership last month.

“I think Warriors will be making some signings over the summer and I am sure they will be in good shape for the season,” said Percival.

“I don’t think it will be a top-six finish but the players know how to win games and have experienced playing in big games like the play-off final.

“The lads won close games last season when, in the past, they were matches we would have finished on the wrong side of.

“The lads can take that sort of knowledge into the Premiership and having a lot of young player coming through is also very important.

“It will be great for the players to have an opportunity to play at a packed Ricoh Arena or a packed Sixways.

“I am sure the players will look back to last season and remember playing in the rain at Moseley.

“They will realise just how far they have progressed and the experience in the Championship will have done them the world of good.”

Percival, who started his career with Warriors at a teenager, made 17 appear - ances for Warriors last term — 12 in the Greene King IPA Championship.

He also helped Warriors to win the British and Irish Cup for the first time against Doncaster Knights in April.

“I actually played for Worcester before the academy was set up,” he recalled.

“Luke Narraway’s dad, Ian, brought me from Old Halesonians and I owe him a lot because that’s how I got on the ladder.

"I was part of the Worcester team when we went down from the Premier - ship and I felt I had a task to get the club back into the top flight,” said Percival.

“I got into professional rugby because I want to play every week.

“Dean Ryan’s plans were clear and the Championship is an ideal place for young guys to come in and have a chance.

“It was quite difficult at times because I just wanted to play rugby.

“There were some hard games like the one in Jersey when I was stuck at home, while I was lucky to play in the big games at the end of the season.

“But it must have been difficult for the players too who were involved in the matches earlier in the season but missed out at the end.”

Percival showed plenty of experience in Warriors’ last-gasp 29-28 victory at Bristol in the first leg of the Championship play-off final at Ashton Gate.

The experienced forward still believed Warriors would prevail even when they trailed 30-16 to Bristol in the second leg at Sixways.

“I never thought we were going to lose the final even when we were 14 points down with just 10 minutes remaining,”

said Percival.

“When we scored after the driving line-out I just had a feeling that we were going to win it and, for some reason, I knew it was going to be our night.

"It didn’t cross my mind that we had won the first leg by one point and I thought the match was going to extra-time until it suddenly clicked in my brain.

“As a player I wanted to celebrate but I could see how distraught Bristol’s play - ers were and I saw them crying.

“It felt like a bitter-sweet moment because it was a remarkable win but it wasn’t nice seeing someone like Chris Brooker in such a bad state.

“Still, it was a good night afterwards and I think the celebrations lasted until about 5am the next morning.”

Despite Warriors achieving promo - tion, Percival was keen for a new challenge away from Sixways.

“I was at Worcester, on and off for 10 years, and not having that opportunity to say goodbye was probably the hardest part,” he said.

“I have always got on well with the fans and it’s a shame I haven’t been able to say goodbye.

“There have been a lot of good times and I have learned a lot about myself. I am sure I will come back to watch games at Sixways when I can.”