Hartpury are reaching a watershed month in their season, believes Alan Martinovic, and one that will really measure them against the best in National One.
Deep down, the director of rugby is delighted that his side can endure their winning form – that's nine in a row for the college team. But it is hard to get under his feet they are nailed down so tightly.
And they have every reason to be. Corresponding home and away fixtures to table-toppers Ealing Trailfinders this week, Coventry, and then Blackheath and Rosslyn Park - the top four consecutively - are all waiting on the horizon.
Hartpury can finally call themselves safe after victory over Tynedale last Saturday but Martinovic knows his team can only quantify their progress against the cream of local club rugby and should have his results back by mid-March.
"I think it will obviously define where we are as far as this league is concerned and whether we can be competitive with the best teams in it," he said.
"Maybe we are not quite at that level yet and the next few weeks will tell us that. Saturday will be a real test for us.
"We are on a particularly good run at the moment but one thing we shouldn't do is get ahead of ourselves."
Hartpury secured victories in the absence of perhaps some of their most promising youngsters, who have been plying the turf in the LV= Cup with Gloucester during the past fortnight.
Wins over Darlington Mowden Park and then Tynedale may not live up to the stellar performances away to Fylde or Richmond but a depth and solidity have been proven.
"We are extremely pleased to have done as well as we have been but our objective, as far as we're concerned, is just to try to win every game we play," Martinovic continued. "We have been able to do that recently but we've got some really tough games coming up.
"We've got some very good players. They are very young players and very inexperienced in a number of cases but it is not just about the guys trying out for Gloucester.
"Throughout the whole squad, they have done exceptionally well to do as well as they have done. Sixty-six points after 22 games – we're averaging three points a game and that is decent."
Ealing have only lost two games all season but solace can be taken from the fact that Cinderford were one of the two, springing a surprise at Dockham Road in January.
"I fully expect Ealing to get promoted this season so we can expect an extremely tough challenge and they are going to be a very difficult side to overcome," Martinovic said.
"They are the sort of team that, if you let them, they can put you out of the game very quickly, rattling off two, three or four tries early on. We have to make sure that we stay in the game for as long as we can and, if we are still in it, we will have a chance."
