Bristol Rugby boss Paul Hull is close to making further signings as he steps up his recruitment drive ahead of the 2010-11 season.

The head coach has secured new contracts for the majority of his existing squad, while also finalising a deal to bring in fly-half Nicky Little from Bath.

And he is working on fresh deals for those remaining members of his squad he wants to keep for next season, as well as nearing the end of negotiations to bring in a number of other players from outside.

Bristol, who complete their 22-game Championship campaign at Moseley on Saturday, have already guaranteed themselves top seeding for the promotion play-offs.

But with the two-legged final taking place on May 19 and 26, they will not know for another 11 weeks which league they will be competing in next season.

Hull, however, is working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring in players of Guinness Premiership quality before the summer.

"We're close [to making new signings] but it's an ongoing process," said Hull. "It doesn't happen overnight – but we're nearly there.

"The bulk of the work has been done with the guys who are already here – and the recruitment of new players is ongoing. That continues, and we'll see where we are on a week-to-week basis.

"I'm just coming to the end of a really busy period. The last six weeks or so have been very busy – not only on the training pitch but also off the pitch. We're coming to the end of that now.

"Of those who are already here, we haven't sealed everyone's deal yet – but the majority of the squad are here for next year and that's a weight off for them. There's still a few more to go, but it takes time."

Saturday's trip to Billesley Common is Bristol's final match before their play-off campaign kicks off against Cornish Pirates on March 19. And Hull admitted he is still unsure of what would be his strongest XV if Bristol faced the play-off final this weekend.

He said: "I wouldn't be able to name the whole starting XV at the moment. There are probably a couple of positions that I could say 'They would start', but at the moment, the beauty of this is that I can't name the whole starting XV.

"We've been pretty true to the fact that we'll pick on form – and what would have been the starting XV three months ago might not be the best starting XV now.

"We want to make sure everyone is playing well, gelling well, playing to the game plan and doing the right things off the pitch. Everything comes into the equation."

When they visit Moseley, Bristol will be without prop Mako Vunipola, who has been named on the bench for England Under-20s' clash with Scotland at Firhill tomorrow.

And Hull said: "I think it's worked out perfectly for Mako. We've integrated him slowly into the first team – and he's built up his own confidence as well as building a nice little reputation within the squad.

"He wasn't involved in the early England Under-20s campaign, but he's in the match-day squad on Friday – and if he gets capped it will be really good."

Bristol will also be without club captain Roy Winters, who is nursing a minor ankle injury, while centre Sam Giddens continues his recovery from a hamstring problem.

Centre Alex Crockett, however, has been declared fit after feeling tightness in his hamstring during his try-scoring debut for the club at Nottingham on Sunday.

Bristol Rugby (from): Backs – L Arscott, T Arscott, D Norton, L Eves, J Adams, A Crockett, J Fatialofa, A Jarvis, M Davies, J Spice, R Shaw. Forwards – A Clarke, M Irish, D Blaney, R Johnston, O Hayes, W Thompson, D Crompton, M Sambucetti, N Budgett, J Phillips, J Merriman, R Pennycook, I Grieve, D Montagu.