England hooker David Paice believes helping London Irish avoid relegation would eclipse anything else he has achieved in a record breaking career with the club who face reigning Premiership champions Exeter at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday.
The Irish, nine points adrift at the bottom of the table, defeated Harlequins 35-5 last time out to keep their hopes of a great escape alive, but their remaining fixtures are against the top two teams -- Exeter and Saracens -- and Bath.
Paice, who has played a record 287 matches for Irish, knows they must win against one of those top two teams to have any chance of making their final match with Bath something more than a farewell to the top flight.
"I've been around rugby for a long time and if we do pull this off it would be the highlight of my career. If we do pull it off it will be an amazing experience and you couldn't have asked for a tougher run in against two of the best teams in Europe," Paice said.
"No one is giving up at Irish while it is still mathematically possible. We need a win and then bring it down to the last weekend -- then anything is possible.
"The spirit at the club has been great and we have a really good bunch of lads and when the chips have been down there has been fantastic camaraderie.
"Weeks ago people wrote us off and we could have given it away four or five weeks ago and gone back to the Championship with our tails between our legs. But, they guys have shown we are going to fight for everything -- even if it is only pride. It means we have given ourselves the tiniest of chances.
"We are proving we are a good team and it is enjoyable being more competitive in these last two months and let's hope it's not too little, too late. The rugby in the Championship doesn't equate to the Premiership although they both have their strengths.
"Bristol weren't really competitive last season until after Christmas and one of the challenges is that you do start behind the eight ball.
"There are a few things -- looking back -- that we could have done differently but we are where we are. Bristol have time to get things ready because there are no playoffs and so they have things wrapped up. They will be better prepared compared to the last time they came up."