WORCESTER Raiders might have been spared 'The Sickener' this week but Chris Cornes is already plotting his next stomach-churning warm-up.

The assistant boss kicks off training with a 30-minute blast to ensure the fitness of his West Midlands (Regional) League Division One title chasers stays “topped up”.

Cornes admits the price is having a few queasy players once the session begins but reckons it has been a tariff worth paying.

“It is becoming a bit of a thing where the lads are calling it The Sickener,” said Cornes.

“We get to training half an hour before our slot and I run the lads, whether that is up the hills at Brickfields or a few of my quirky runs on the 3G.

“They have named it that because a few of them feel sick afterwards. It is a bit of everything, sometimes it is running with the ball, sometimes it is strength based.

“It is short and sharp to keep us topped up in terms of fitness. We try to press teams and to do that you need to be fit.

“We wanted to be fitter than anyone else in the league this season and our efforts have paid off so far.

“I was feeling a bit soft this week, though. To be honest I was struggling to come up with another surprise but they can rest assured, I am planning the next one already!”

Raiders seek a sweet 16th straight league win at home to mid-table Wrens Nest tomorrow (2pm).

Their latest triumph, Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Bustleholme, came despite a last-ditch switch to University of Worcester’s 3G pitch.

“We have some big games coming up so we forked out to make sure the game was on,” said Cornes.

“It was a comfortable performance. Bustleholme worked hard and pushed us, any team from that area does to be honest.

“We had a lot of chances and it could have been a stupid score but we did not take full advantage. I don’t know whether that was down to the 3G, the wind or a bit of complacency.

“Still, it was three points and we scored a few goals. A clean sheet would have been nice.

“It can be frustrating when you play sides from the lower end of the table and drop a level but to be fair to the lads, they rise to the occasion against the better sides.”

Leaders Darlaston Town beat Old Wulfrunians 2-0 on Saturday to secure a seventh straight win and remain five points ahead of Raiders having played four more matches.

Darlaston host second-bottom Telford Juniors tomorrow before heading to Claines Lane on Saturday, February 23.

Cornes expects to have a full squad available this weekend with Alex Marsh returning from suspension.