David Slemen has warned his Esher side to front up from the start against Worcester or risk being blown away.
The star-studded Championship favourites visit Molesey Road on Saturday with a perfect 100 per cent record after three straight wins.
The Warriors are odds-on to make it four but Esher skipper Slemen insists his side can bounce back from their disappointing 31-9 defeat at Bedford and spring a shock.
Esher conceded a try inside two minutes at Goldington Road and also made a dire start at home against Bristol before hitting back to claim a famous victory.
Now Slemen says Esher must fly out of the blocks.
He said: “We didn’t start well and looked flat across the board at Bedford. We have to hold up our hands because we weren’t at the races.
“I don’t know why we were so bad because we went there thinking we could win after the momentum gained from our two opening wins.
“Now we face the best team in the league and we know we have to be switched on for every minute of the game.
“We cannot keep conceding early tries because it changes the dynamic of a game when you are chasing it.
“We know we have got to improve both individually and collectively and our defence has got to be much better from the off.”
But fly-half Slemen insists the fact that Esher, who won their opening game at Moseley, are underdogs could help their cause.
He added: “Nobody expects us to win so the pressure is off in a way. We haven’t anything to lose and hopefully that means we can play with freedom.
“Bedford was so disappointing because there was the belief in the squad that we could win there.
“Now we have to show we are a much better side against Worcester, who have not had everything their own way even though they won their first three games.
“Rotherham and Plymouth both did well against them so we feel that if we can play well we really have a chance. It’s up to us to make a statement and try and make up for last week.”
Worcester, bankrolled by Cecil Duckworth’s millions, opened their campaign with a crushing 48-3 victory over Birmingham and Solihull.
But they were tested at Plymouth before emerging victorious thanks to a try hat-trick from dangerman Miles Benjamin.
Richard Hill’s side also struggled against Rotherham at Sixways last weekend before claiming a 32-25 victory and third straight win.
l England legend Simon Halliday has been named as executive director at Esher.
The former Bath and Harlequins star, who won 23 caps for his country, coached Esher’s first team in the early 1990s as they climbed the first rungs on the English leagues ladder.
“My main role will be to drive the strategy of the club and to accelerate the pace of change,” said the 50-year-old.
I have been lucky enough to be involved at many levels of Rugby whether it be with Bath or Harlequins or at the Rugby Football Union as well as at Esher Rugby in the early 1990’s. I am confident that I can use that experience to the club’s benefit.”
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