WORCESTER Warriors can’t afford “lost opportunities” in Saturday’s home Aviva Premiership showdown with “outstanding” Exeter Chiefs, warns director of rugby Gary Gold.

Gold rued a couple of missed try-scoring chances for Warriors in their precious 24-18 triumph against Saracens last weekend.

He admits Warriors will need to keep their “wits” at Sixways against third-placed Exeter who they have never beaten in the top tier of English rugby.

“Exeter are an outstanding team with ball in hand and you don’t accidentally score 35 points against Wasps. They can be a real threat,” said Gold.

“We are going to need to have our wits about us. There were a couple of opportunities last weekend which we didn’t take. They were lost opportunities.

“If we don’t take our opportunities against a team like Exeter it will be a long afternoon.

"We have prepared well and know what they are bringing and we will have handle it.”

Warriors were brushed aside 57-22 at Sandy Park in November and struggled to cope with the pace and power of Chiefs.

Gold is a big admirer of the work Rob Baxter has done in establishing Exeter in the Premiership and guiding them into the Champions Cup.

“The job Rob has done is nothing short of outstanding and they’ve got quality throughout their squad,” said Gold.

“They may not necessarily be top-name international players but they work unbelievably hard for each other and the club have created something special.

“When you are leaving out players of the quality of Thomas Waldrom then you know you have a lot of confidence in the rest of the squad.

“I imagine the competition in the Exeter squad must be particularly healthy with everyone fighting for positions and the pressure internally on them to perform week in week out must be pretty high.”

Meanwhile, Exeter lock Jonny Hill has been handed a two-match suspension after being red-carded in Sunday’s 35-35 draw against Wasps.

The former Luctonians youngster was sent off by referee Greg Garner for striking Ashley Johnson in the head with his shoulder.

He pleaded guilty to striking with the shoulder, contrary to Law 10.4(a).

Ludlow-born Hill is free to play again on Tuesday, February 28.

In agreement with the RFU and Exeter, the charge was dealt with by a sole judicial officer on the papers.

The judicial officer Daniel White said: “The contact to Ashley Johnson’s head was reckless but caused no injury.

"In line with the new sanction table judicial officers are required to apply a mid-range entry point. The player received credit for his guilty plea and clean record.”