FLY-HALF Duncan Weir insists Worcester Warriors need to have a “ruthless touch” when they tackle Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

Warriors led Wasps 13-0 inside the first quarter of their Premiership opener at Sixways last weekend and were 20-18 in front going into the final 12 minutes.

But Weir admitted Worcester failed to “polish them off” when they had the chances to and paid the price for it as the Coventry side clinched a 21-20 victory.

“We created 10 opportunities in the opposition’s 22 and were only able to convert three of them,” Weir said.

“That conversion rate has got to go up.

“We just need to have a clinical edge to polish teams off and hopefully have that ruthless strike-rate once we get into the opposition’s 22.”

Weir, who missed a last-gasp drop goal to secure victory for his side, says he hopes Warriors’ efforts to work on their finishing in training will pay off against Sharks.

“We have trained all summer together so it is just about understanding where we are and how hard we have worked to get into these areas,” continued the 27-year-old.

“Sometimes you maybe just force that pass or you are over-eager to get into the space because you have seen it.

“You need to make sure you are doing the simple things really well and be calm and collected when you get into the 22.

“If there are any dropped balls or any lack of clinical finishing we can be very ruthless in training, really drill it out there and hopefully come the weekend it will just come naturally.

“The guys have got to have a ruthless touch when it comes into that area so we can get that conversion rate up at 50 or 60 per cent which would be a real positive.”

Sale conceded six tries in a 51-23 thrashing by Harlequins at The Stoop last Saturday and are missing the likes of wing Chris Ashton due to suspension and scrum-half Faf de Klerk who is on international duty with South Africa.

But Warriors have not won at Sale since 2008 and Weir was wary of the threat Steve Diamond’s side posed in attack with Denny Solomona and Marland Yarde on the wings and Byron McGuigan at full-back.

“Sale have got a really dangerous back three,” Weir said.

“They keep the ball alive a lot and look for offloads. They play a high-tempo game so we need to front up defensively.

“We all know it is going to be a physical battle up there as well.

“They have got a strong home record so the challenge is a hard one.

“But we are definitely up for it and if we can stay in the fight long enough then hopefully we can come away with a positive result.”