WORCESTER Warriors are on course to set a new Championship record league attendance in tomorrow’s showdown against promotion rivals Bristol at Sixways (3pm).

Warriors have so far sold 10,200 tickets for their final game of the regular season, which will determine who will finish top of the table heading into the end-of-season play-offs.

Warriors are closing in on the highest Championship league gate of 10,701 who watched Bristol beat Plymouth Albion at Ashton Gate on New Year’s Day. The capacity at Sixways is 12,024.

Warriors chief executive Jim O’Toole said: “Our rivalry with Bristol has really captured the imagination of our supporters. It is fantastic to see so many people making the trip to Sixways to watch the match.

“It’s going to be an exciting occasion as we look to finish the season at the top of the league and the support of the Sixways crowd will be invaluable over the next five weeks as we look to win promotion back to the Premiership.”

Warriors, who lost 23-19 at Bristol on the opening day of the season, will want to round off their league campaign with a win against their biggest rivals in the division.

Worcester’s director of rugby, Dean Ryan, is hoping supporters will also turn out in force for the home leg of their semi-final play-off tie on Friday, May 8 (7.45pm).

“This is a crucial time in the club’s future and we are preparing to be in the Premiership,” said Ryan.

“We want to be in it this year and want every advantage we can get and one of those is by making sure Sixways is full.”

If Worcester beat Bristol, Warriors will finish top of the Championship and are set to meet fourth-placed Rotherham Titans in the semi-finals.

But if Warriors are second in the table, they will face third-placed London Scottish in the semi-finals.

Nicol McClelland, RFU press officer for the Championship, has confirmed Sky Sports want to televise both legs of Bristol’s play-off semi-final.

Ryan says centre Andy Symons, who had a bang on the head in last weekend’s thumping 69-8 win at Cornish Pirates, will be fit for selection for tomorrow’s clash.

Ryan added: “We want to finish top of the pile and we will select a team accordingly. I know what we are doing and why we are doing it and we have had a pretty clear plan for some time. I am not going to waste any energy thinking about what Bristol are doing.”

n Championship record attendances (excluding play-offs): Bristol v Plymouth Albion 10,701 (January 2015); Bristol v Bedford Blues 8,067 (December 2011); Bristol v London Welsh 8,061 (April 2014); Bristol v Cornish Pirates 7,714 (January 2010); Worcester v Bristol 7,474 (October 2010).