Bristol skipper Jason Spice remains focused on overhauling Exeter and finishing on top of the Championship table – even though promotion will be decided by end-of-season play-offs.

The former Cardiff Blues scrum-half scored a superb try as Bristol Rugby beat Plymouth 33-8 at the weekend – and feels his team have turned the corner following a shaky start to the season.

Bristol lost two of their opening eight games of the season, going down at home to leaders Exeter and away at Doncaster.

But following an eight-try victory over Coventry and Saturday's five-try win at Plymouth, Spice is confident Bristol have finally learned how to succeed in the Championship.

And the New Zealander remains determined to overhaul the seven-point gap between Bristol and Exeter between now and the end of the regular season in February.

"The last couple of weeks have been a big improvement, so we are definitely going in the right direction," said Spice.

"We have said from the start of the season that we want to win every game, because winning becomes a habit.

"We weren't happy with how things went in the first six or seven weeks, although the new format in this competition obviously gives us the chance to right a few things over a longer period than we would normally have.

"But we are still chasing Exeter, and, personally speaking, I would like to see us finish on top of the pile. That is almost out of our hands, but we will continue to work on improving our performance and then see what happens."

Exeter have won all 10 Championship matches so far, securing try-scoring bonus points in half of their games.

But, while Spice's ultimate goal is to topple the Devonian side and then win promotion via the play-offs, he is more concerned by his own side's development.

"I definitely think things are on the up," he said.

"The team is functioning better as a group, and as individuals we are all playing a bit better now.

"I feel that this is a group of people, who, collectively, are only going to get better as the season goes on.

"Personally, I think the last couple of weeks have gone better for me. I have been happier with my performance and contributing a bit more – and hopefully that can continue."

Bristol face Nottingham at the Memorial Stadium on Sunday – and victory could put as many as 10 points between the second and third-placed sides.

Nottingham made a flying start to the new season, but have lost their last two matches, against Plymouth and Exeter.

However, Spice knows that Bristol Rugby must treat every opponent with the utmost respect following their shock defeat at lowly Doncaster last month.

"We have proved that we can't take any team lightly, so it will be much the same from us again this weekend," said Spice.

"The focus will be a lot stronger than it had been in the first five or six weeks of the season.

"In the last couple of weeks, the guys have really focused on staying instinctive throughout the whole match – and I think we are getting better as a result.

"If we can get a third straight win, while playing at the same kind of intensity as the last two weeks, then I think it will show that we are on the right track."