WARRIORS director of rugby Dean Ryan says he’s trying to shatter an illusion that any player at the club is guaranteed a first-team spot.

Ryan Mills has grabbed the fly-half jersey after Ryan Lamb’s ankle injury.

While in-form Andy Symons is raising his profile after two solid kicking displays, including posting 18 points in Worcester’s 58-3 win at Nottingham.

Ryan said: “We have got to lose the illusion that somebody who has played well is then guaranteed to remain there for the rest of the season.

“Those days are gone and players have to play well every week.

“If a player doesn’t play well every week, then the next person will come in. If he then plays well, he gets his chance and it just keeps on going like that.”

“Andy arrived at the club as a kicker but he had a couple of off-days in his first few hits.

“When that has happened, you tend to lose a bit of confidence to go back to him.

“We looked at developing Chris Pennell’s kicking but Andy’s got his head down.

“He gives us another option because it was not that long ago when we could not hit the posts. It’s a nice choice to have a couple of kickers going at it.”

Centre Alex Grove appeared 22 times during Ryan’s first season in charge, but has struggled to make an impact this term due to the form of Max Stelling, who has scored 12 tries in 16 matches.

“Alex has had opportunities but, at the moment, is not playing as well as the person that’s in the side,” explained Ryan.

“There are a number of people who probably started for us last season but who are not playing regularly for the first team this year. There isn’t anything in that other than competition for places.

“I don’t think players accept it. True competitors don’t accept it.

“They work really hard to try to change it but that’s the nature of a good club.

“Alex has been an outstanding professional but is he comfortable with it (not playing)? No — and that’s the reality of playing competitive sport.

“The more difficulties you have in getting into a side then the more a side drives itself on.”