The coming weeks will define Exeter Chiefs' Aviva Premiership season, according to head coach Rob Baxter.
The Chiefs return to league action today after two successful weekends in the Heineken Cup.
Back-to-back wins over Scarlets extended their recent winning run to seven games in all competitions.
The sixth-placed Chiefs can now establish themselves in the top half of the table in upcoming fixtures against Gloucester, Bath and Northampton Saints.
"I think in most ways, they are more crucial," said Baxter ahead of today's game at Kingsholm. "The Premiership is really the bread and butter and what things are all about. We have always based everything we've done on how we play each week in the Premiership.
"You would have to be a fool not to look at the Premiership table and see that our games now are against teams that are right around us in the league. If we come out of these games better than the other teams involved, we will be moving up the table. That makes it a nice challenge for us. It makes it very important to play well in these games."
Baxter says the Chiefs will travel with no fear this afternoon. Victory will move his side above Gloucester in the table.
"We have faced some big challenges this season and we have always thrived on them," he said. "Going to Kingsholm in front of a sell-out crowd in a local derby at Christmas – that's what it is all about.
"What we don't want to do is let teams get away from us at the top end and we don't want to get pulled down towards the bottom. We have got to look to attack this Gloucester game and deal with the Bath game when it comes around. They are very different in a lot of ways.
"We are aware that having two wins in the Heineken Cup is not the be all and end all of our season. What could make it interesting is us performing now against a team that are just above us in the league."
Baxter sees the Cherry and Whites' dogged persistence in games as their main strength this season.
He said: "They are a very difficult team to beat. They are not cutting through you as much as they did at times last year but they are solid defensively. If you look at their games won and lost, if they don't win, they won't lose by much. That's the sign of a good solid side.
"They eat up a lot of territory with their defence and tactically they don't get a lot wrong. That has been shown in their results and the key for us is to make sure we are just as competitive in every area.
"It is about keeping a run going but it is also about starting something new. You work very hard for every win you get and sooner or later you have to make sure you are getting your attitude right or you get hurt.
"The better teams can almost become more desperate to win when they are on good form and winning – that's something I have to make sure we don't forget.
"Winning isn't a habit, it is a state of mind that you force on to the opposition and yourself week in and week out. If we can get that right, we are a very good side."
Team news for the Chiefs sees Baxter again tinker with his winning formula, making four changes to the side which defeated the visiting Scarlets 30-20 a week ago.
Three of those changes come in the back division where Luke Arscott, Jason Shoemark and Matt Jess all return, while up front the solitary difference in the pack sees Richard Baxter come in for the injured Tom Johnson at No.8.
Such team alterations are no cause for concern, according to Baxter. He said: "We have got players in certain positions but in other areas we are a little more stretched. In the positions where we can bring in fresh guys – give some a break and keep them all hungry – we will do.
"That is something we are becoming more confident in, with this group of players. From a coaching perspective, we are feeling comfortable that everyone is really buying into what we are trying to do.
"We see that every day in training and now we are seeing it in games. It has taken a little while for us to feel like this but the guys rarely let us down."
Exeter Chiefs: Arscott; Camacho, Dollman, Shoemark, Jess; Steenson Thomas; Sturgess, Alcott, Tui; Muldowney, Hanks; Mumm, Scaysbrook (capt), Baxter. Replacements: Clark, Moon, Rimmer, Hayes, White, Barrett, Mieres, Whitten.
