A REVENGE victory for Worcester Warriors could ignite a Midlands derby rivalry with Wasps, insists full-back Chris Pennell.

Warriors’ director of rugby Dean Ryan says it’s too early for the fixture to be classed as a derby because Wasps moved to Coventry less than 18 months ago.

But Pennell believes “great games of rugby” create rivalries and another closely-fought match would get the pulses racing at Sixways.

Warriors looked set for a crucial away win in January’s first Premiership meeting at the Ricoh Arena before two late tries gave Wasps an unlikely 32-22 triumph.

“What makes rivalries is great games of rugby and we had a very closely fought contest at their place and I fully expect it to be tight at the weekend,” said Pennell.

“If we can come out on top it might be the start to building that rivalry. But what’s more important for us is to give a good account of ourselves and show our ambition going into next season.”

The visit from Wasps heralds the start of a tough end to the season for Warriors, who travel to Leicester Tigers before winding up their Premiership programme at home to Saracens.

All three teams are pushing for the Premiership crown and have reached the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup.

“It’s really important we have an opportunity to show what we’re about and test ourselves against the best teams in the country and we have to be excited about that,” said Pennell.

“We’ve had times over the last few weeks when we have played under the pressure of needing a win.

“Now we don’t necessarily need to win in terms of securing Premiership status it puts a whole different slant on things.

“But the next three games are going to be a sign of our ambition and how we do will feed into next season and will affect people’s perceptions of us as a club and people’s perceptions of coming to Sixways. It’s massively important we give a really good account of ourselves against the best teams.”