As frustrated as he was by his side's no-show at Bath last Saturday, Worcester's director of rugby, John Brain, believes their 18-10 loss could be the perfect preparation for their crunch Premiership match with Saracens.

Brain said yesterday that he had detected a lack of intensity in the build-up to the match at The Rec and affirmed his determination to make sure it was not repeated when Sarries visit Sixways a week on Saturday.

Worcester rolled up in Bath on a three-match winning streak to face opponents short of 18 players, seemingly expecting to win but, despite leading 10-6, proceeded to infringe away even a loss bonus.

"We have questioned the frame of mind of some of the players," said Brain who suggested that some of his charges were beginning to believe their own press.

"We have missed a big opportunity to cement ourselves a place in this league. To use the old vernacular, we have looked a gift horse in the mouth."

Had Worcester won they would have been 11 points clear of Leeds, who lost at Wasps the following day, and virtually assured themselves of a place in the top flight next season.

But their defeat means they have to beat Saracens on March 26 if they are to avoid a nervy last match of the season at home to fellow strugglers Northampton.

Brain said: "It was very frustrating but it might prove to have come at an important time. We have lost games before and the squad has proved it is generally resilient and normally bounces back after such setbacks."

Off the pitch Worcester are continuing to secure the futures of most of the side who have made this season such a competitive one.

Dale Rasmussen has agreed a new contract and the centre follows Matt Powell, Andre van Niekerk, Craig Gillies, Tim Collier and Drew Hickey in making a commitment to stay at Sixways.

With Pat Sanderson, Thinus Delport, Thomas Lombard and Chris Horsman already under contract, Worcester have gone a long way to shaping next season's squad.

Things are less clear at the Butts Park Arena where many of Coventry's players and management remain locked in negotiations over new deals.

Head coach Steve Williams, who has been a great success in his first season at the club, is not saying anything about his own future while many of the players are equally uncertain.

Captain Adrian Olver is one of many key performers who have yet to agree terms and while he intimated he would like to stay he emphasised the importance of continuity.

Olver said: "For the town of Coventry I think it is massively important that we stay together as a squad. In any sport it takes time for guys to bond and gel. Even against Bristol on Saturday, when we were up against one of the best teams in the league, we were living with them and putting it about a bit.

"The management are talking to a lot of players and at every team there are four or five players who want to go off to a higher challenge and there is always a bit of natural wastage. But hopefully we are going to keep the main nucleus of the squad together and pick up some good players ourselves.

"That continuity is important, we don't want to be going back to square one. It is hard work bonding at first, with the coaches we have achieved that this season."

Coventry's next opponents, Pertemps Bees, shipped 29 second-half points in their last match with Rotherham and director of rugby, Phil Maynard, said: "If you play like we did you are going to have trouble beating the girl guides."