WORCESTER host local rivals Malvern in the Regional 2 Midlands West this weekend in what is a must-win game for both.

Second-bottom Worcester go into the clash on the back of a thumping 62-10 defeat at Stratford-Upon-Avon last weekend, whilst Malvern's game with basement boys Berkswell & Balsall was postponed due to a frozen pitch at Spring Lane.

It means Malvern have had a two-week break since they lost for a fifth straight match at home to Stratford by 32-5.

The visitors on Saturday are a place and five points clear - with a game in hand - over their hosts and a win would put a significant amount of daylight between the two sides in the race to avoid relegation.

But Malvern are winless on the road in the 2023/24 campaign and have only won once in this season, although that was the reverse fixture at Spring Lane against Worcester, which they won convincingly 52-10.

Worcester will be hoping to right some wrongs from that afternoon and will likely come up against a slightly different Malvern side, who have been hit with injuries and unavailability in the last month or so.

Either way, it is a derby and, regardless of the league table, it is always a game players from both squads are eager to be involved in.