Mike Ruddock insisted his Worcester Warriors should enter the Amlin Challenge Cup in good heart after a promising start to the Guinness Premiership campaign.
After five games of the domestic season, Warriors switch focus to Europe for the next two weeks as they first up entertain French Top 14 side Montpellier at Sixways Stadium on Thursday (kick-off 7.45pm).
Director of Rugby Ruddock admitted his side could be even further up the league table after heart-breaking late defeat to Northampton Saints on the opening day and giving champions Leicester Tigers a huge scare on the road.
But Ruddock, who this week penned a new one-year contract extension, believes his side are in good shape ahead of the next challenges.
“We have had some tough battles – there was not much between the teams,” he said.
“We now go into our European challenge buoyed by a reasonably start. Two home wins and some difficult performances, in terms of being difficult to beat, on the road and picking up some crucial bonus points.
“We think we are in pretty good shape. We don’t enjoy losing; we haven’t enjoyed losing to Leicester. There were some injuries in the Tigers team and it was a day when we could have got a result at Welford Road.
“But that shows how far we have come as a team and how we have changed, we are disappointed not to get a result.
“Even when we have struggled in recent years we have shown we can beat some of the better teams,” he added. “We beat Gloucester and Wasps home and away last season, there is plenty of spirit in this team.
“What is key is us being more consistent week in and week out. Against Leicester there was a lack of accuracy in our first half attack. That has probably cost us.
“We must keep working as a team and we will become an even better side. Then these near misses that we have had in the opening few weeks will transfer to some big wins.”