LETHAL finisher Tom Howe says he has tried to up his game after receiving some top tips from two former Worcester Warriors wingers.

Howe increased his Warriors career tally to 20 tries in 29 appearances after notching his first hat-trick for the club in Friday’s 34-19 defeat to Exeter Chiefs at Sixways.

His man-of-the-match display in the Premiership Cup match pushed his claims for a starting spot as Warriors look to fill the void left by Wales ace Josh Adams and New Zealand flyer Bryce Heem who departed this summer.

After battling for places with Adams and Heem, Howe now faces fresh competition from Samoa’s World Cup speedster Ed Fidow and ex-Super Rugby “superstar” Melani Nanai.

But the 24-year-old felt he benefited a lot from the rivalry with Adams and Heem and hopes their advice will pay dividends for him this season.

“Josh and Bryce were the two starting wingers last season and I have taken a lot of positive feedback from them,” Howe said.

“I have tried to up my game and hopefully I can take some of the stuff they have said into this season.

“We have got really good competition this year.

“Ed is playing really well in the World Cup and Melani is a superstar from the other side of the world, so the competition is still strong which is good and will really kicks us on as a back three.

“Solly (Alan Solomons, director of rugby) and the coaches have tough decisions to make for that first (Premiership) game (at home to Leicester Tigers on Saturday, October 19).

“No one knows what the team will be which is great and that is why we are mixing the teams in the Premiership Cup games, so everybody is given an equal opportunity.”

Howe started the season with a new look after deciding to wear a scrum cap to “protect” his head following “a few knocks” last term.

However, the ex-Wasps back is already considering ditching it after it was ripped off shortly after scoring the first of his three tries against Chiefs.

“I had the scrum hat on so I thought I was a forward for a bit,” joked Howe after driving over from a maul in the opening four minutes.

“Then after that score it got ripped off, so I just decided to be a back for the other two!

“I think (the hat) is probably done for good now.

“Because the physicality in every game is so high, I am just trying to protect myself wherever I can.

“I took a few knocks last season and got concussed a couple of years ago so I thought I would start to where the scrum hat.

“I have been training with it for the past few weeks and have actually quite liked it.

“But the fact it got ripped off could be a sign. We will see.”

Warriors face Howe’s former club Wasps at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday (3pm) in the final match of the Premiership Cup’s group stages.

“We are still blowing a few cobwebs away,” Howe said.

“Hopefully the result can go our way next week and we can put in a performance before the Premiership starts.”