WE find ourselves in a strange position as we come to our final fixture this season.

We set out with ambitions of climbing to the top half of the table and, for the most part, these ambitions were achievable.

To be mathematically safe is obviously a huge burden off our backs and there are many people who will simply be pleased that we have survived our first season back in the English top-flight.

The last thing we want is to become a yo-yo team and our ambition won’t allow this.

For me personally, I have seen enough evidence that we are close to taking that next step. I’ve also seen that some of our old habits really will die hard, but to move forward we must obtain that extra 10 per cent when it really matters.

There have been some incredibly tight games that we have lost our grip on in the dying moments.

How different could the league table be looking now had we held on?

In our season in the Championship, we had some tough tests that we overcame together.

The likes of the Cornish Pirates away fixture where we trailed 25-7 at half-time, only to fight back and win by three points, and I’m sure nobody needs reminding of the semi-final against Bedford!

Then, we fought to protect our lead with everything we had in the second leg of the final, withstanding wave after wave of Pirates’ attacks.

Those moments have had a huge influence on our survival this season.

But in these tight Premiership games, we need that extra 10 per cent to take us over the line in front.

That’s been the difference this season between a team finishing 10th, 11th or 12th and those fifth, sixth and seventh. That’s the challenge we face and extracting that extra bit excites me.

Before our focus swings too far into the future, we have a job to do this weekend.

Northampton Saints await our arrival on Saturday in need of a win to secure fourth spot and cement their place in the play-offs.

We have nothing to lose and a chance to restore some pride following our below-par performance against London Irish.

We had a chance to send some long-serving Warriors off in good fashion, but we missed it.

I think it would be an amazing achievement and a fitting send-off to come away from Franklins Gardens with a win. I am just gutted I won’t be out there to help the boys do just that.

I’ve no doubt we will have amazing support there as usual and I thank you in advance if you are making the trip. We plan on making your return journey somewhat easier.

I don’t tend to watch too much rugby on the TV, to be honest, but with my leg up for the last week, my options have been limited.

I’m sure many of you also watched the Heineken Cup semi-finals, two of the best games of rugby I have seen in a very long time.

We obviously have a huge distance to cover before we see ourselves at that level, but the great thing is, I truly believe we will be there one day.

Until then, the journey ahead promises to be an exciting one and, from my sofa with my leg elevated, I cannot wait to take the pitch next season.