WORCESTER Warriors are on the crest of a wave after three straight wins but head coach Rory Duncan reckons a break from competitive action has come at a “really good” time.

Duncan believes his Warriors’ players need to “clear their heads” and “walk away from rugby” before hitting the ground running next week.

Worcester recovered from a 28-14 half-time deficit to beat Stade Francais 36-31 in a European Challenge Cup thriller at Sixways last week.

The dramatic victory follows a last-gasp 20-18 triumph at Ospreys and a 21-19 comeback win over Bath in the Gallagher Premiership this month.

Warriors will now have to wait until Sunday, February 3 for a chance to extend that run as they host Wasps in the Premiership Cup.

But Duncan has welcomed the break and reckons a number of his players will use the time off to go on holiday.

“I think the whole idea of this week is for the players to just take some downtime,” Duncan said.

“We have worked through a really hard block.

“It is the first time this season since we started with the warm-up game against Treviso that some of us will have a bit of time off.

“I think some of the guys will go out of Worcester and the others will hang around.

“I think you’ll get your usual faces that keep going to the gym in their off time.

“But I think the good thing is that the guys don’t have that mental pressure of having to sit through video and planning sessions.

“It is good opportunity for the guys to clear their heads.”

Fly-half Duncan Weir, scrum-half Francois Hougaard and centre Francois Venter are among several players who have not played since tackling Bath three weeks ago.

Duncan said the trio were fit but needed a period to recuperate after a busy first half of the season.

“We have tried to give breaks in the season,” Duncan continued.

“When we have played in the ECC games and Prem Cup games we have given other guys an opportunity for a bit of game-time.

“But I think this break comes at a really good time for the guys to be able to clear their heads and get themselves geared up because we have got a tough round of fixtures.

“We have got the Premiership Cup games coming up and then we have got a tough round of Premiership fixtures.

“We all need to be in the right frame of mind for that.”

A bonus-point victory over Wasps will secure Warriors who currently lead Pool Two a place in the semi-finals that take place the following weekend.

Warriors will then have a run of four successive league games, starting with a trip to Harlequins on Saturday, February 16.

“It is very nice to be finish on a win before going into this break,” Duncan added.

“Hopefully when everyone comes back they will all be refreshed and recharged to go again.”