WORCESTER Warriors are “not a Championship club” and will be “fighting” to remain in the Aviva Premiership.

Back row Matt Cox says Warriors have had some tough times this season but “cannot go down”.

Warriors remained second from bottom in the Premiership but increased the gap from Bristol to five points with Saturday's valuable 24-18 home win over reigning champions Saracens.

Redditch-born Cox said: “For me this club cannot go down. We came back to Worcester for the Premiership and not the Championship.

“We’ve had a few ups and downs this season and a few unlucky results with a couple of draws which would have put us in a different situation.

“We have got a good set of boys and a good set-up. This is a Premiership club, not a Championship club, and the boys will be fighting to stay up.”

After beating Newcastle Falcons and Harlequins at Sixways the Saracens win was their third in the Premiership this season.

Cox admitted a few Warriors' players went “back to the drawing board” after a couple of tough league defeats, including the 55-19 drubbing at M5 rivals Gloucester early last month.

“We had a dark spell and a few boys had to go back to the drawing board and look at a few things,” said Cox.

The ex-Gloucester player impressed in the European Challenge Cup and Anglo-Welsh Cup campaigns despite Warriors failing to qualify from the group stages in either competition.

Cox, 28, has not started in the Premiership this term but is determined to force his way into new boss Gary Gold’s line-up.

“I just want to be a part of it and play in the Premiership,” he added.

“I can only keep doing what I am and hopefully the wind will change or something will come my way and I can put my mark down.

“I have enjoyed playing at number eight because you’re involved in a lot of decisions.

“I don’t want to talk out of turn but I would love to have a crack in the Premiership.

“I am playing for my home club and I don’t want them to go down.”

Warriors are next in action when Exeter Chiefs visit Sixways in the league on Saturday (3pm).