STOPPING high-flying Wasps from securing quick ball will be vital in Sunday’s Aviva Premiership derby at Sixways (3pm), admits Worcester Warriors head coach Carl Hogg.

Warriors were torn apart in defence in last Saturday’s 57-22 thrashing against fifth-placed Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.

Christian Wade bagged six tries as Wasps romped to a 54-35 Premiership win at Sixways last season.

Coventry-based Wasps also showed their attacking flair at the Ricoh Arena earlier in this month in a 62-10 thrashing of Warriors in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.

Reflecting on last weekend’s bruising defeat, Hogg said: “Exeter have been a good side for a number of years, especially at Sandy Park.

“By their standards, they had a slow start to the season but unfortunately we gave them an opportunity to click.

“We have to look at how we control the speed of the ball.

“Wasps will be very similar.

“Wasps have got some big carriers and we have to be more effective with the chop tackles and getting the second man to control the speed of ball.”

While second-bottom Warriors have won only once this season, Wasps are second in the table, just four points behind defending champions Saracens with seven victories from nine matches.

Dai Young's side have an abundance of pace in the ranks, including full-back Rob Miller, scrum-half Joe Simpson and fly-half Danny Cipriani.

Hogg insists it will be a “test of character” for Worcester as they attempt to get their campaign back on track.

“We’ve got one or two people to come back from injury but ultimately we have to go and solve it from within this group,” said Hogg.

“When ball comes up quickly we have to be able to get off the line and win gain-lines.

“It’s a test of character.

"It was a difficult afternoon against an Exeter side who came out of the traps and were very much on form and on fire and we struggled to control that.”

Hogg threw a few surprises in his team selection with rookie lock Andrew Kitchener starting in the place of Ireland legend Donncha O’Callaghan.

Wing Dean Hammond replaced the suspended Ryan Mills in an unbalanced-looking midfield.

“I wanted to have a look at Andrew," said Hogg.

"I thought he did very well coming off the bench the previous week and I wanted to give him an opportunity to start."

Hogg also replaced some of his senior players, such as scrum-half Jonny Arr and Chris Pennell before the final whistle.

Hogg added: “Taking off Jonny was about a level of protection.

"We have a big game on Sunday and it was also about giving Michael Dowsett a shot and by that time the game was effectively gone.”