Worcester Warriors have underlined their Premiership ambitions by announcing a #23million redevelopment of their Sixways site.

The club, who have climbed from the lower reaches of the Midland leagues in the last decade, yesterday unveiled plans to increase the ground's capacity to 13,200 as they look to become one of the leading sides in Europe.

In a comprehensive redevelopment, the East and North Stands will be re-built while a gymnasium with a swimming pool and tennis courts will be added.

New roads, park-and-ride facilities and several training and amateur pitches also form part of a plan that chairman Cecil Duckworth hopes will enable the club to compete with the best.

"I couldn't have imagined this when I first arrived," he said. "But we don't look back. We want to provide the play-ers, coaching staff and supporters with the best facilities, so we can take the club on and be among the best in Europe alongside the likes of Sale, Leicester, and Wasps."

Work has already started on the East Stand, which will be ready for pre-season matches in August and will increase the capacity to 10,200. A new club shop, bars and food areas will be built under the stand while a new VIP lounge is also expected to be included.

Away from the main play-ing area, Worcester have also bought 25 acres of land to turn into pitches for their successful junior and amateur sides.

The club's Academy will also benefit from improved facilites as they strive to bring on the next generation of young players.

Duckworth said: "It's about giving (director of rugby) John Brain and the players the tools to be successful."

Sponsors npower certainly believe Worcester are moving in the right direction, having just agreed a new #1.5million three-year deal.

The remainder of the building work is expected to be completed for the 2007-08 season, by which time the capacity will have risen to 13,200.

With a present capacity of 9,700, Worcester consistently sold out last season and, while attracting an extra 3,000-plus fans is no mean feat, Duckworth is confident the demand is there.

He said: "When we were promoted into the Premier-ship, we had a capacity of 5,000. The league rules said we had to have 8,200 and we didn't know if we'd fill that, but we have. Obviously, the jump from 9,700 to 13,200 is a big one and it'll need some work but, if we continue winning, it makes the marketing job easier.

"Initially, it'll be difficult but I'd expect to get big crowds against Gloucester and Bath, we've started a bit of a rivalry with Northampton and obviously Sale, Leicester and Wasps. That's half the league and then we can work on the others."

The work is just part of the contiuning evolution of Worcester and, while many might suspect that Duckworth is bankrolling the venture, he says the club is moving past those days.

"I'm not saying how much I've put in because the wife might find out," he said. "But the club is on the verge of being economically viable. We have to become selfsustaining, no club can survive indefinitely if someone is continually putting their hands in their pocket.

"The European Cup run this season was very successful for us and if we take that next step forward and play in the Heineken Cup, then that builds revenue as well."

All the work off the pitch will mean nothing if the side fails to perform and with #23m being ploughed into the scheme, you might think that Brain would be feeling the pressure.

"You're always under pressure," he said. "If you have top-class facilities, then you are expected to have a first-class team, but that's part of the job."

Off the pitch, Brain has been busy assembling a squad he believes will be challenging for honours next season.

Having already brought in Ben Gottings (Wasps), Lee Best (Bath), Ryan Powell (Cardiff Blues), Darren Morris (Leicester Tigers) and Marcel Garvey (Gloucester), Brain is chasing three more new faces.

"I'm after a hooker, a back row and a centre," he said. "Negotiations are well advanced with two of them and two are current internationals, but that's all I'm saying."