LOCK Darren Barry insists Worcester Warriors are “desperate” to return to winning ways as they host Exeter Chiefs in the Anglo-Welsh Cup tomorrow (3pm).

Since beating London Irish in the Aviva Premiership last month, Warriors have lost to Saracens, Bath and Brive and drawn with Connacht.

They also suffered the disappointment of being knocked out of the European Challenge Cup after targeting the quarter-finals.

And Barry expressed his determination to finish January on a positive note with a win.

“Perhaps in seasons gone by the 24-24 draw against Connacht would have been a good result for us,” he said.

“But having gone from being in a winning position to draw a game like that we were very disappointed.

“That felt like a loss and results in and around that have not necessarily been favourable for us so we are desperate to get back on the winning track.

“That bit of momentum from a win on the weekend will hopefully see us through for the next block of Premiership games.”

Warriors lost 24-21 to Sale Sharks and 45-37 at Harlequins in the opening two games of the competition.

But Worcester, who visit Dragons next Friday (7.30pm), still have a chance of reaching the last four as they sit second in Pool Three, four points behind leaders Northampton Saints.

The winners of each group go through to the semi-finals.

Barry felt they had taken the competition “pretty seriously” while using it as a platform for players to prove their worth.

“It’s not been a development tournament where we have thrown out a load of kids,” said the 27-year-old.

“We have put out guys who have got international caps.

“The first two games gave the group a bit of confidence as guys who hadn’t been playing up until then maybe scared a few who had been playing a majority of the Premiership games so their performances improved as well.”

Warriors have lost their past 12 meetings against Exeter with their last victory coming in 2004.

The defending Premiership champions also finished runners-up in last season’s cup and Barry said he was wary of the threats Chiefs posed.

“They will go through multiple phases as in the past against us,” he said.

“They will look after the ball very well and have got big runners and a big pack so we know it is going to be a physical encounter.

“They will have enough to hurt us if we are not on top of our game.”