A TOUGH pre-season will give Worcester Warriors a fighting chance of breaking into the Aviva Premiership top six, according to scrum-half Francois Hougaard.

The South African international is confident Warriors will continue to improve under Gary Gold’s direction and push for European Champions Cup qualification.

“Everything is given to us, we’ve got great facilities and all the tools to make it work,” said Hougaard.

“It’s up to us to perform and put in a big pre-season and then come next season fighting and I believe we will be a top six club next season.”

Ironically, Hougaard could be missing for the first half of Warriors' campaign due to international commitments with the Springboks.

The 29-year-old has been a key player for the club at the tail-end of the past two seasons and instrumental in helping Warriors avoid the drop into the Championship.

Warriors are second-from-bottom and round off a turbulent campaign against fourth-placed Leicester Tigers at Sixways tomorrow (4pm).

Gold’s men have little to play for in terms of the league table, although they could climb above Sale Sharks if they secure a bonus-point win over Tigers.

But Hougaard said: “We definitely want to go out and prove we are not a bottom of the table team and deserve to be in a better spot. We can’t slow down in any way.

“The reason we play rugby is for tough games like this. I like challenges like this and there’s nothing better in life than a good challenge to see how good you can be.

“We’ve got everything to prove. We can just getter from here.

“No-one wants to be in a position when you are free from relegation but play bad rugby at the end of a season.

“It’s our fault we are down there and it’s up to ourselves to put it right.”

Hougaard is expected to link up again with stand-in fly-half Ryan Mills, who has stepped up to the role after Jamie Shillcock damaged his knee in January.

Mills has penned a new deal at Sixways for next season but has told Gold he would prefer to play at inside centre for the club.

Hougaard has enjoyed his partnership with Mills, who missed the start of the campaign with a groin problem.

“Ryan is a natural footballer, has all the skills and is a great athlete,” said Hougaard.

“He’s got everything and that’s why he flourishes in the number 10 position.

“As a club, we are happy to have Millsy and he’s been doing really well, especially with the kicking."