THERE’S a “lot of unfinished business” with promotion rivals Bristol, insists Warriors’ highly-rated tighthead prop Nick Schonert.

Schonert made his competitive debut for Warriors in September’s last-gasp 23-19 defeat against Andy Robinson’s men at Ashton Gate.

The rivalry has been heightened after Andy Short and scrum-half Luke Baldwin, who are heading to Sixways at the end of the season, were both frozen out by the Bristol club.

Now South African-born Schonert is salivating at the prospect of the two sides colliding in the end-of-season Greene King IPA Championship play-offs.

“I have never played in the play-offs before when you meet the same team in a two-legged affair,” said 23-year-old Schonert.

“It’s going to be quite interesting in the play-offs to see who the Worcester coaches play and who they rest. It’s the part of the season we have all been waiting for.

“It’s been a long season and the boys are eager to get promotion and a lot of the boys are very excited about the next few months.

“I think there’s a lot of unfinished business with Bristol. We played them at the beginning of the season and they came out on top – but I would really like the change that statistic.

“I would really like to come back and beat them twice in the play-offs.

“I am at Worcester for two more seasons after this one. Hopefully, that will be two years of playing Premiership rugby.”

Schonert has made 11 competitive appearances for Warriors this term and scored a try since arriving from Super 15 side Cheetahs in the summer,.

Schonert, who qualifies to play for England, was part of South Africa’s IRB Junior World Championship side in 2011.

“I spoke with the England’s forwards’ coach when he came to Worcester earlier in the season and he just told me to keep on doing what I am doing,” revealed Schonert. “You always want to play at the highest level and playing for England interests me.

“At the moment, doing well and helping Worcester to promotion is my main focus.”

The South African admits it has been a big learning curve acclimatising to the cold and wet playing conditions in this country.

“I have been getting used to scrummaging in wet weather and playing in minus temperatures,” he said.

“I am used to the warmer conditions in South Africa and I still prefer playing in the dry weather because my scrummaging is better suited to those conditions.”

The prop added: “I have been battling with the wet weather and, perhaps, getting long-legged in the scrums.

“I have been working with forwards’ coach Mefin Davies and he’s helped me out a lot.”

Schonert was yellow-carded in the second-half of Warriors’ last outing against Bedford Blues in the Championship.

“I know I was going down but the consistency was probably a problem,” said Schonert.

“I thought their lad was to blame 90 per cent of the time. In those type of games you have to be squeaky clean and I just wasn’t.”

Schonert is good friends with powerhouse Mike Williams, who is leaving Sixways at the end of the campaign to join Premiership outfit Leicester Tigers.

“I am very glad for Mike — it’s a bit unfortunate for me because we are very good friends from back home in South Africa,” said Schonert.

“I am very happy for him because he’s been playing some very good rugby for the past two seasons.

“I will back his decision to leave Worcester because he’s a very good friend of mine and I wish him all the best.

“But it’s just unfortunate that I won’t be seeing as much of Mike during next season.”