EXPERIENCED Worcester Warriors back row Phil Dowson is top of the tackling charts in this season’s Aviva Premiership.

The former Northampton Saints and England star has made an impressive 105 tackles in nine league matches.

Dowson also made 17 carries in Worcester’s last Premiership outing at Wasps, the joint most in round nine and the highest tally by a Warrior this term.

Centre Ryan Mills is joint second in the tackling charts alongside former Warrior Matt Kvesic, with lock Donncha O’Callaghan fourth.

Warriors’ defensive qualities are highlighted in the latest Opta statistics for Premiership Rugby.

And Dean Ryan’s men will need to perform at their best to overcome second-placed Exeter Chiefs at Sixways on Sunday (3pm).

Chiefs are the league’s top try-scorers with 30, and have lost just one of their last eight matches in the competition.

Chiefs’ number eight Thomas Waldrom has crossed the whitewash six times and is the Premiership’s top try-scorer.

Waldrom has also made 135 carries – the most be any player in the top tier of English rugby.

Exeter lock Don Armand is menacing in the line-out with seven steals so far.

Warriors full-back Chris Pennell, with 99 carries, is third in the “most carries” section and is closely followed by Dowson with 87.

Pennell has also made a total of 721 metres with the ball in hand – just 16 behind leader Mike Haley (Sale).

Exeter’s England back Jack Nowell has been a major threat this term having beaten 33 defenders – the most by any player in the Premiership.

In the offload section, Warriors wing Cooper Vuna has made nine, just four below Northampton’s Ben Foden, and 12 breaks.

Warriors are 10th in the Premiership and have lost their last 10 first-team matches since beating La Rochelle 19-3 in November.

Warriors’ last Premiership victory was a 28-20 success against relegation rivals Newcastle Falcons at Sixways on November 7.

Opta statistics for Premiership Rugby:

Most tackles made: 1 Phil Dowson (Worcester) 105, =2 Matt Kvesic (Gloucester), Ryan Mills (Worcester) 94; 4 Donncha O’Callaghan (Worcester) 92.

Most carries: 1 Thomas Waldrom (Exeter) 135, 2 Mike Haley (Sale) 116, 3 Chris Pennell (Worcester) 99.

Most metres gained: 1 Mike Haley (Sale) 737, 2 Telusa Veainu (Leicester) 733, 3 Chris Pennell (Worcester) 721.

Most defenders beaten: 1 Jack Nowell (Exeter) 33, 2 Veainu (Leicester) 31, 3 Samesa Rokoduguni (Bath).

Most off-loads: 1 Ben Foden (Northampton) 13.

Turnovers won: 1 Kvesic (Gloucester) 13.

Most breaks: 1 Frank Halai (Wasps) 13, 2 Cooper Vuna (Worcester) 12.

Line-out steals: 1 Bryn Evans (Sale) 8.

Most kicks: 1 Danny Cipriani (Sale) 125.