WORCESTER Warriors must rip up the form and history books to topple London Irish in tomorrow’s Premiership bottom-of-the-table clash at the Madejski Stadium (1pm).

Dean Ryan’s men head to Reading with third-from-bottom Warriors having picked up just two wins from the last 33 Premiership away trips.

They have beaten Wasps (6-0) and Newcastle Falcons (17-12), crashing to 31 away defeats since January 2012.

Warriors have lost their last 11 games and Irish have won their last two home Premiership matches.

The statistics weigh heavily against Warriors, whose only win against basement side Irish in the last eight battles was a 35-11 success at Sixways in September 2012.

Worcester’s only victory at the Madejski was in September 2005.

But Ryan admitted: “This is the first year we’ve been in the Premiership where we actually feel we have been good enough.

“We have not necessarily transferred that into wins, because at Wasps there was an opportunity but we didn’t take it, so the record still sits with us.

“We can’t hide from records. We can’t say we’ve been unlucky for four years — we’ve not been good enough.

“Now we are starting to get competitive home and away and have to change the story.

“But there isn’t a magic answer, like we sit on a different side of the bus and suddenly everything is going to work.”

Tomorrow’s showdown features two sets of brothers on opposing sides. Centre Fergus Mulchrone and second row Matt Symons start for Irish, while their respective siblings, scrum-half Charlie Mulchrone and centre Andy Symons, are on Warriors’ bench.

Worcester have made just one change to the XV beaten 30-15 by Exeter Chiefs last Sunday with flanker Matt Cox coming in for Marco Mama, who is among the replacements.

Lock Darren Barry is struggling with nerve damage in his arm and misses out, while flanker Sam Betty is still concussed after a heavy collision against Wasps last month.

Ryan said: “We are confident we can go and get a win. There’s no reason why we can’t.

“Confidence is based on the things you know are working and we are starting to get those things turning up in games.

“If we can recognise that and produce under pressure, there’s no reason why we can’t go there confident of getting a win.”

Irish include Worcester-born flanker Luke Narraway, a former King’s School pupil, who won seven caps for England.

Their record try-scorer Topsy Ojo will make his 250th appearance for the club.

But Irish are without injured New Zealand prop Ben Franks and ex-Warrior Blair Cowan, who is in the Scotland squad.

Ryan said: “Shane Geraghty (fly-half) is a gifted player and, with Ojo and Aseli Tikoirotuma on the wings, Irish have individuals who can do different things.

“They are trying to build something that’s about work-rate and haven’t been too cohesive against pressure sides.

“I watched them against Sale and they weren’t too cohesive but they have people who can hurt you. We have to be very aware of their threats.”

Warriors: Pennell; Heem, Olivier, Mills, Vuna; Heathcote, Baldwin; Leleimalefaga, Annett, Schonert, O’Callaghan, Cavubati, Dowson, Cox, van Velze. Replacements: Bregvadze, Rapava Ruskin, Johnston, Sanderson, Mama, Mulchrone, Lamb, Symons.

Irish: Fenby; Ojo, Hearn, Mulchrone, Tikoirotuma; Geraghty, McKibbin; Court, Paice, Aulika, Symons, Lloyd, Sinclair, Narraway, McCusker. Replacements: Ellis, Smallbone, Halavatau, Nagle, Guest; Steele, Williams, Brophy-Clews.