WORCESTER Warriors face Bristol in the Greene King IPA Championship final and Alex Grove admits it is a fitting finale for the league’s top two clubs.

With 200 league points between them during the regular season – London Scottish finished third on 64 – the big guns were neck-and-neck until the final weekend.

They met at Sixways, where Bristol completed a season’s double with a 30-26 triumph and finished top of the pile.

Now the duo will lock horns again on Wednesday and former Scotland centre Grove concedes revenge is a useful motivator when they travel to Ashton Gate.

“I think fair is probably the closest word I can find to describe the final,” he said.

“It is credit to both Worcester and Bristol that we meet in the final.

“I am not shying away from the fact they have beaten us twice this season, home and away, but they are aware more than anyone that what happens in the league, generally speaking, counts for very little.

“Dean Ryan said it publicly that this is a different competition, the play-offs, and I agree. It’s a clean slate and you have just got to get through the final.”

Worcester had to navigate London Scottish in the semi-finals and did so with the help of a 38-15 win at Sixways – having carried a five-point lead over from the first leg.

“It was a potential banana skin and London Scottish pushed us close in that first game but fortunately it was over two legs,” added Grove.

“The first leg was a bit closer than we wanted it to be but we were aware that we didn’t have to win it over 80 minutes and we backed ourselves on our home patch.

“We thought in the first leg they would play a bit more rugby and move the ball, but they kept it in their forwards with Mark Bright, who has been awesome for them.

“At Sixways we took their threat away from them and didn’t give them any opportunities, which was important. Our discipline was much-improved as well.”

And with just 160 minutes of rugby standing between the Warriors and an immediate return to the top flight, Grove believes they are ready to clear the final hurdle.

“We really want to get back to the Premiership,” he added.

“There are a lot of players in our squad that haven’t had a taste of the top flight.

“We have got a squad that’s really driven and set on achieving. And a lot of young players have come here because they were given an opportunity by Dean and the management, and they were hungry to achieve that.

“Charlie Mulchrone is a classic example, who has been brilliant for us this season. He has been the standout player for Rotherham for a couple of seasons and is desperate to test himself in the top flight.”

Formed in 2009, the Greene King IPA Championship is the second tier of professional rugby union in England. To keep up-to-date with all the latest news follow @ChampRugby on Twitter, or visit www.rfu.com/championship