Mark Irish insists taking a step backwards by joining Newbury on loan last season has helped his bid to make the No 1 shirt his own at Bristol this campaign.

With former Scotland international Dave Hilton and Alex Clarke ahead of him in the loosehead prop pecking order, the former England Under-21 international struggled to force his way into the Bristol first team after signing for the club from Gloucester in February 2005.

He jumped at the chance to join National Division One strugglers Newbury for nearly all of the season, getting regular rugby under his belt before returning to the Memorial Stadium last summer.

But, with Hilton retiring last summer and Clarke unable to make an impact this term, the 28-year-old from Bridgwater has enjoyed his best Guinness Premiership season so far, starting 10 matches this term before putting pen to paper on a new contract earlier this month.

Irish said: "I have committed for another two years at Bristol. I am enjoying playing for the club this season. I have got a good amount of game time.

"I have really enjoyed the step up in rugby since coming back to the club from Newbury.

"I had the opportunity to play week in, week out and strung some back-to-back games together. That helped me massively get my confidence back up."

Bristol handed themselves a Premiership lifeline by thrashing second-from-bottom Worcester 37-18 on Sunday and are now only nine points behind the Midlanders.

Irish believes Bristol, who had been improving before beating the Warriors, can continue their revitalised form on Saturday, when they visit third-placed London Irish.

Under new head coach Paul Hull, Bristol had become more clinical in attack and have crossed the whitewash 11 times in the last three matches.

But they will come up against an Exiles outfit who have won 10 out of the their last 12 matches at the Madejski Stadium and have beaten Bristol three times in the last four meetings between the club.

Irish added: "Winning is a tough ask but it is not out of the question. We must stick to our gameplan.

"We are not mathematically down yet. Hopefully we can go out and perform like we have done in previous weeks. The performances are getting better.

"If we continue to perform individually and collectively then the results will follow. That was our aim for last weekend. Hopefully that will happen on Saturday."

"We are playing a better style of rugby now. But it has taken us time to get use to it. We have the confidence to stick to the gameplan for 80 minutes.

"Irish do have a good home record and the Madejski Stadium is a tough place to go."

Irish has also revealed the spirit at Bristol has been raised since the club claiming their second league victory of the season.

The club last won in November – 14-13 at home to Northampton – and have three games left this term.

Irish added: "The win had been coming. We were going to play well and beat a side. The atmosphere was superb. The boys were so high after the match. It was such a great win for us."