Flanker Dave Ewers says Exeter Chiefs' players have to ignore the league table as they continue to chase a place in next season's Heineken Cup.
Exeter's 24-18 win at Worcester last weekend – a third in their last four Aviva Premiership outings – kept them in the hunt for a place in the top six.
They are now two points behind Bath, who occupy the final qualifying berth for next season's top European competition.
Now, after Wasps lost 22-13 at home against Saracens on Saturday, the Chiefs are just one point and one place behind the Londoners.
Rob Baxter takes his side to Adams Park on April 21 for a potentially crucial match in the race to finish in the top half of the table.
With Bath still having to play the top three sides in Harlequins, Leicester and Saracens, Exeter are in a decent position to press for a place in the Heineken Cup again in the 2013-14 campaign.
"We've got three games remaining and they are all going to be massive challenges for us," said Ewers, who made his first Premiership start against Leicester two weeks ago.
"Right now we've got to just put the league table to the back of our heads and concentrate on the next game.
"The aim for us has to be to work as hard as we can and then see what happens.
"We're happy with the win [at Worcester] because it keeps us in touch for the top six, but there is still a lot of hard work to be done."
Ewers was a late inclusion in the starting line-up for the 12-9 defeat against the Tigers at Sandy Park at the end of last month when James Scaysbrook's partner went into labour.
However, he retained his place for the trip to Worcester and was delighted his side battled through to travel back home to Devon with the four points.
"We knew from the beginning that we would have to work for the whole game to get a result," said the 22-year-old.
"As it worked out, we had to wait until the last few minutes to get that win.
"Obviously we're chuffed with the win, although we'd probably like it to have been a bit easier than it was. Worcester is a hard place to go, so we're glad we got the win and now we'll look to the next game."
The Zimbabwean progressed through the Chiefs' Academy and cut his teeth in senior rugby at Exmouth, where he was on loan while still in his teens.
His progress over the last couple of seasons has been rewarded with a new one-year contract for next season, and the flanker is pleased to be staying at Sandy Park.
"I was over the moon to get the new deal," he said. "The Chiefs are a great club and I'm happy to be here for another year.
"Playing for the first team is a great experience for me and hopefully we can finish the season strongly and get in that top six."
Lock Will Carrick-Smith was due to fly to Australia this week to link up with Sydney-based side Randwick.
The Exeter Chiefs youngster has found his game-time limited this term, despite being dual-registered with Taunton and then Plymouth Albion.
The 21-year-old featured in all four LV= Cup matches for the Chiefs this season, scoring two tries in the process.
Head coach Rob Baxter hopes Carrick-Smith, who stands 6ft 11ins tall and weighs more than 20st, will benefit from some regular game time 'down under', at a club where former Exeter centre Wade Kelly is head coach.
"Will is going to Australia this week to link up with Randwick," confirmed Baxter. "He's not had as much rugby as we'd have liked since his move from Taunton to Plymouth [on dual-registration], so there's a great opportunity for him to go and play some rugby in Australia during our off-season.
"Hopefully he can get some good rugby into himself and hopefully that'll be great for his development.
"We hope he'll play well enough to force his way into their first team and play some good rugby."
Chiefs legend Tony Yapp also spent time with Randwick early in his career.
