WORCESTER Warriors players have learned from last week’s Aviva A-League final heartbreak against Saracens Storm, according to in-form centre Andy Symons.

The Cavaliers slipped to a 27-19 defeat against Storm in the showpiece match and Symons says they identified the mistakes which, ultimately, proved costly.

Warriors return to knock-out action against Welsh Premiership champions Pontypridd on Saturday in the last eight of the British and Irish Cup at Sixways (3pm).

“I was at the A-League final and Saracens’ kicking strategy was better than ours,” said Symons.

“We are a team that wants to play attractive rugby in the A-League and express ourselves, but that wasn’t a game to do that.

“It was a game to squeeze and force errors from the opposition which Saracens did and they were the smarter team on the night. The club has been very positive with the A-League and did fantastically well to get to the final.”

Warriors have used the British and Irish Cup campaign as an extension of their A-League season and progressed from the group after six successive wins.

Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan says he doesn’t plan to alter the club’s approach to the competition and Carl Hogg is overseeing the fixture, with Sam Vesty coaching the side.

Ryan indicated that the club will field a squad with a mixture of first-team regulars and players who have been the backbone of the Cavaliers’ campaign.

Symons scored a try and kicked five conversions in Saturday’s 50-10 win at Moseley in the Greene King IPA Championship and might not be part of the squad.

Symons said: “We have got a few Welsh lads so it should be a really good game. Pontypridd will definitely be up for it and we are looking forward to it, too.”