Paul Hull is confident his Bristol side are learning to deal with their new-found favourites tag as they prepare for their toughest test of the season so far.

Bristol Rugby, like tomorrow's opponents Exeter, have won their opening four Championship matches – and victory at the Memorial Stadium will equal the club's best run of form for more than four years.

After winning only five matches in all competitions during their relegation season last term, Bristol struggled to see off London Welsh and Birmingham & Solihull in their first two matches of this season.

But they brushed aside Rotherham 36-10 in their third game – and last week ended Bedford Blues' winning start to the season with a 6-5 victory at Goldington Road.

And Hull said: "Last week was an interesting test, because although we were second, we were still favourites. Bedford really threw a lot at us and saw it as an opportunity early in the season to take a scalp.

"But we rose to that challenge well, so I think we are getting better at that, but this weekend will be another big test.

"It's a slow process, but we're getting used to the firm favourites tag, we're getting used to expectation and we're getting used to putting pressure on ourselves."

Exeter have finished runners-up in the second tier of English rugby in each of the last two seasons – and have finished in the top six in each of the last 11 campaigns.

And Hull expects the Devonians to rely on their renowned forward power when they come to Bristol tomorrow afternoon.

"I think this will be a different type of challenge to last week," said Hull. "Bedford play a very open, 15-man style of rugby and Exeter offer different threats.

"They're very good up front, have a very good set-piece and a good kicking game, so they are the things I expect to come out of Exeter's changing room on Sunday.

"We're going to have to fight fire with fire, because they will come out very strong. They will try to make sure their forwards get a good percentage of the ball."

And while Hull is not getting too carried away with the significance of tomorrow's first-versus-third clash, he accepts there are psychological edges on offer to the winners.

"We're five games in and there are play-offs at the end of the season, but you do want to perform well and build up some momentum," he said.

"You want to go into the latter stages feeling confident and having done well against teams who will be there or thereabouts.

"So there is a bit of psychology in who wins, because that will set you in good stead for later on.

"There is a little bit of a carrot, but in the whole scheme of things it will come down to some one-off games at the end of the season.

"It's quite obvious for everyone to see that if you win your games against certain teams, when you play them again you will have a bit of an advantage psychologically."