JAMES Percival says captaining the Championship XV against Canada is one of the top three highlights of his career.

The giant Worcester Warriors lock will lead the invitational team in Sunday’s showpiece match at Sixways (3.15pm).

Percival is relishing the opportunity to shine in the role having donned the armband for Warriors during the majority of the 2012-13 season.

He considers his appointment an honour that compares to both that accolade and playing for Harlequins against Stade Francais in 2008.

“It’s a massive honour and to be playing at Worcester is an honour as well,” Percival said. “I was captain a few seasons back at Worcester and to be captain in this arena is amazing. To do it again, I can’t wait.

“This is up there with being captain of the Warriors. The three biggest highlights within my career are playing in the Heineken Cup at the Stade de France in front of 80,000, being captain of Warriors and this.”

Percival, who is joined in the Championship select squad by Sixways team-mates Ryan Bower and Jonny Arr, reckons the players must make the most of their chance to compete against international opposition.

With Canada drawn against France, Italy and Ireland in the forthcoming World Cup, he is expecting to face a team full of players clamouring to return to England next autumn.

The 30-year-old said: “If I was a Canadian player I’d come out here and want to prove a point. They’ve got positions to play for in a world cup in England and I would want to be in that squad more than anything.

“I don’t know what sort of team they are putting out but I would imagine there will be some experience in there and some players wanting to prove a point.

“Sometimes those players wanting to prove a point are more deadly than the ones who are quite seasoned pros.

“It’s going to be a challenge and we’ve got boys here who want to prove points to other clubs or to their own.”

The select squad linked up at Sixways yesterday and will spend today, tomorrow and Saturday training.

Percival, in his second spell at the club after rising through the academy ranks, added: “I have seen a few of the boys walking around saying how amazing the facilities are and it makes you realise how lucky we are as players at Worcester to have all this.”