FRUSTRATED Nigel Davies believes Gloucester should be annoyed with themselves for failing to qualify for the Premiership play-offs.
The Kingsholm boss has challenged the Cherry and Whites to vent that anger at Exeter on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm) in their final game of the season.
Rugby director Davies has told Gloucester to treat this weekend's Sandy Park clash as the start of next season, rather than the end of this.
The former Wales centre is not satisfied with securing Heineken Cup rugby for next term – he believes Gloucester should have tied up a tilt at the league title.
And he believes the battle for a top-four finish next season starts as early as this weekend.
Gloucester were delighted to see off league leaders Saracens 28-23 in their final Kingsholm clash of the campaign on Saturday, April 20.
But Davies said that victory only served to sum up just how the Cherry and Whites have sold themselves short, by suffering sloppy defeats to the likes of London Irish and Sale.
He explained: "On quick reflection I'm a little bit frustrated with this season.
"We've made progress, but I think we've missed an opportunity quite frankly, and we've got to use that to drive us forward now.
"Next season it will be important that we can go away to places like Exeter and be competitive, and to me that starts now.
"After the Saracens victory there's definitely frustration that we didn't get a little bit more out of the season.
"So hopefully we can take that into Saturday's game.
"When you look at the fixture you would say there's everything to play for for Exeter, and nothing for us.
"But that's certainly not how we're looking at this game, we're looking at this as the start of our next season.
"We've failed to get into the top four, probably because we haven't been able to go away to places like Exeter and get a result.
"And it's very important we establish the right mindset and focus to be able to do that.
"We've got to start preparations for next season this weekend.
"I really see this as part of our development and progression, to make sure we are ready for the start of next season.
"It's a springboard into next season.
"This is traditionally the business-end of the season as everyone calls it, and we've got to be prepared to play in big encounters at this point of the campaign.
"It was really important for lots of reasons to finish on a high at home against Saracens.
"We managed that and it showed once again the potential of this side.
"The big thing for us is consistency.
"And this is a challenge to build that, and produce another high-end performance."
Gloucester edged out Exeter 18-16 in a tense Kingsholm clash in December.
Davies reckons the Chiefs will be out for revenge this weekend – and he has warned his players to expect a backlash from a well-drilled, stubborn side.
He continued: "They are a very good side, a very capable team, the fact they qualified for Europe last year and can still do so again this year speaks volumes about all that.
"From what they say they were very frustrated with the result up here and they will be looking to make amends, so it's going to be tough for us.
"They control the ball very well by holding on to it for long periods.
"They play good rugby, hold on to the ball, and they back themselves to do that, so all credit to them for playing a good brand of rugby.
"But it's a challenging brand of rugby so you have to be on your mettle against it.
"I think it will be important that we put a lot of pressure on them when they've got the ball.
"And then when we've got the ball either use it wisely to get in good field position, or hold onto it ourselves."
