Pat Lam says that Bristol will relish their Gallagher Premiership play-off task against title favourites Bath.
Bristol booked an appointment with their fierce west country rivals on June 6 after beating Harlequins 52-26 in front of almost a 20,000 crowd at Ashton Gate.
“I don’t have to do anything (to motivate the team),” Bristol rugby director Lam told TNT Sports.
“The Bristolian players drive the week – I let the local boys sort it out. We have played them 14 times since we’ve been back in the Premiership, and won 11.
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“The two we have lost, one was in the 82nd minute and the other was by a point.
“Saying that, Bath have a phenomenal squad. Johann (van Graan) has done a brilliant job and it is going to be really tough for us, but we are going to embrace it.”
Tries in the first five minutes from prop George Kloska and lock Joe Batley sent Bristol on their way against Quins, before wing Kalaveti Ravouvou and number eight Viliame Mata also touched down.
Fly-half AJ MacGinty added three conversions, putting Bristol clear despite two tries by Quins’ England wing Cadan Murley and one Jamie Benson conversion.
Quins threatened a major fightback when Alex Dombrandt and George Hammond crossed early in the second period – Benson added two more conversions – but Bristol coasted clear through a Gabriel Ibitoye double and scores from flanker Santiago Grondona and centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg, plus three more MacGinty conversions.
Lam added: “Us and Bath are the only two teams that have been in the top four throughout all 18 rounds of the Premiership.
“There are a lot of things for us to be proud of, but it’s play-off rugby now.”
Lam, meanwhile, confirmed that England prop Ellis Genge will be fit for the Recreation Ground showdown after missing Quins’ visit.
“Ellis took a knock in training on Tuesday, and he didn’t train on Thursday. There was no point taking a risk,” Lam said. “He will be fine for next week.”
Quins finished seventh in the Premiership, 10 points adrift of the play-off places, and head coach Danny Wilson said: “We started the game terribly today and it put us in a bit of a hole.
“We were back in it at 31-26, but then Bristol capitalised on their opportunities.
“They are a very, very good side if you let them let rip. It has been a painful end to the season.”
