DIRECTOR of rugby Gary Gold will be “unbelievably disappointed” if Worcester Warriors take their foot off the gas in the final two matches.

The former South Africa assistant boss has warned his players not to let their good work go to waste now Worcester’s Aviva Premiership survival has been secured.

Second-from-bottom Warriors travel to ninth-placed Newcastle Falcons on Friday (8pm).

“I just think it would be so much good work gone to waste if we were to ease off now,” said Gold.

“I know our remit was to stay up in the Premiership but surely the biggest thing was to improve and be a better rugby team than we have shown in the past.

“With the group of players we’ve got I don’t see why now one box has been ticked we should not continue to improve.

“I would be unbelievably disappointed if we took our foot off the gas and from training that hasn’t been the case.

“At the end of the day, we are 11th in the table and that’s nothing to shout about and that’s still a little bit embarrassing.

“This group of guys don’t want to be a bottom-of-the-table team because they want to compete with the best.

“I don’t believe we are in a position to win this competition yet but I do believe we are in a position to improve vastly.”

Gold had an interim spell at Newcastle Falcons before he joined Bath as director of rugby in May 2012.

And the Warriors chief believes facing Newcastle on home turf at Kingston Park will provide another stiff test for his side.

“Newcastle is not an easy place to go and I know that from first-hand experience,” said Gold.

“I think the job they have done up there is incredible and they are a competitive team.

“They are always going to be competitive at Kingston Park but they’ve had a couple of away wins and are a wonderfully established team.

“They have the same back row as when I was there four years ago and a good bunch of guys who are honest and hard working.

“I am delighted to see how well they have done but I know we will have a massive challenge on our hands on Friday night.”

Warriors will be seeking a first away league win in their penultimate match of the campaign.

Wing Bryce Heem is available after suspension and Worcester hope to welcome back loosehead prop Val Rapava Ruskin after a rib problem.

“Now is the time to step up and we should be putting more pressure on ourselves in terms of performance,” said Gold.

“We haven’t got an away win so there’s nothing to shout about and we haven’t achieved anything if you think about it in the cold light of day.

“This team haven’t got an away league win in the whole season and that’s pretty shocking. That's an incredible incentive for us to play for.”