Worcestershire are still above the bottom two of the LV = County Championship relegation zone heading into the final quarter of the season.
The New Road side went down yesterday by five wickets to visiting Nottinghamshire after another totally committed performance in the Division One encounter which ended after lunch on the fourth day.
But the five hard earned bonus points they accrued, via three for bowling and two for batting, has kept Worcestershire in seventh spot on 112 points.
Sussex had the chance to overhaul them but were edged out by 20 runs against Middlesex and are still two points adrift of Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes' side after collecting six bonus points.
Only five points separate the bottom three clubs after Hampshire clawed their way back into contention by defeating Warwickshire.
Worcestershire have to face Sussex at New Road in early September and their other fixtures are away to sixth placed Somerset and Durham and at home to Middlesex in the final game of the season.
Sussex have to play champions and currrent runaway leaders Yorkshire home and away during their run-in.
TABLE (Played, Won, Lost, Tied, Drawn, Abandoned, Points)
Yorkshire 11 8 0 0 3 0 208
Middlesex 12 5 1 0 6 0 171
Warwickshire 12 5 3 0 4 0 158
Durham 12 6 5 0 1 0 154
Nottingham 12 4 4 0 4 0 149
Somerset 11 3 5 0 3 0 120
Worcester 12 2 8 0 2 0 112
Sussex 12 3 7 0 2 0 110
Hampshire 12 2 5 0 5 0 107
