UNFASHIONABLE Gloucester are ready to defy the detractors and stand their top-four Premiership ground, believes Dan Murphy.
Potent loosehead prop Murphy reckons the established Premiership powers do not want to see the Cherry and Whites muscle in on the play-off territory.
But the 27-year-old front-rower is confident the Kingsholm men can keep frustrating the league's usual movers and shakers, provided they sustain their early-season ability to eek out impressive results.
Gloucester take on Saracens at Vicarage Road on Sunday (kick-of 3pm), well aware their Watford trip could prove their most testing league clash to date under Nigel Davies.
Whether the rest of the league likes it or not, though, Murphy is confident Gloucester's men have what it takes to cement their position at the sharp end of the table.
He explained: "We know how important this game is in terms of helping us stay in the top four, and in the mix at the top end of the table generally.
"Although people don't really like us being up there, we're here to stay really, that's how we see it.
"We don't want to be leaving there, we deserve to be up there on our form and results so far, and the big challenge is to keep that going.
"We firmly believe we deserve it, and there's nothing to say we can't stay there and keep it going.
"And so that makes this game even bigger.
"Saracens are a great team that we respect a huge amount, their achievements speak for themselves and you have to give them credit.
"But we're growing all the time, moving forward and really starting to bring something together hopefully."
Murphy had to bide his time to say the least last season, in waiting for chances to prove his Kingsholm worth.
After switching from London Irish in a bid to get his Premiership career back on track, the Romford-born front-rower had to sit firmly behind Nick Wood in the selection stakes.
Nigel Davies has been at pains to ensure there is as close to no pecking order as possible this term, and Murphy's string of strong showings, be it from the off or as a replacement, are proof positive that strategy is far more than just a good idea in theory.
Gearing up for an intense battle against Saracens, Murphy admitted a section of the Gloucester squad will harness the hurt of the men in black removing the Cherry and Whites' unbeaten Kingsholm record last term.
An ill-tempered game wound up with Saracens edging out 19-17 winners on October 29, 2011.
While none of the rancour remains, Murphy said Gloucester might just keep some of the frustrations of that defeat in mind this weekend.
Hailing Gloucester's consistent scrum power this term, Murphy continued: "It has been nice to get some starts and prove I can do the business from the start.
"Nigel has been as good as his word in terms of giving everyone chances, and it keeps us all fresh as well as in form.
"Last year an injury would come and then you had to get yourself fresh in quick time.
"And I think the approach this year has benefited everybody, and long may it continue.
"We haven't turned into a strong scrummaging side overnight – all the work we did with John Brain last year has just been added to by Tony Windo.
"And now we're really starting to click, I think.
"We know this will be a very tough game, but we'll stick to our structure and see what we can do.
"There's a little bit of sting left in from last year when they took our Kingsholm unbeaten record, and I think a few people will keep that in the back of their minds as motivation."
