RUSSELL Earnshaw’s bid to prepare Bees for the ravages of the relegation play-offs have compelled him bring in a sports psycho-physiologist.

The director of rugby is keen to make sure his players are both mentally and physically ready for the six-game post-season, starting on Sunday week.

Which is why he recruited John Neal, a specialist on the relationship between mind and body with the Ashridge Business School, to work with his squad earlier this week.

“With the play-offs coming up we wanted a little bit more confidence and belief going on to the pitch.” Earnshaw said. “We know we are a good side and our A game is pretty damn good but it is also about having that right frame of mind and understanding how it affects you physiologically.

“It is about reaching those hard-to-get-to mental muscles and making sure they are in good shape.

“He also talked a bit about intelligent arrogance and the example he used was of Lawrence Dallaglio before a Heineken Cup final standing there, chin jutting out and thinking he is never going to be beaten.”