Exeter boss Rob Baxter says his team are “progressing” as he aims to turn around their poor form this season.
The Chiefs lost a club-record six successive Premiership matches before the international break.
Since then, they have parted ways with defence coach Omar Mouneimne but beaten Championship sides Cornish Pirates and Hartpury in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
Exeter face their sternest cup test so far on Friday night when they visit Gloucester at Kingsholm.
“We have to look like a team that’s on the front foot and moving forward, that’s the single most important thing,” Baxter told BBC Sport.
“We have to keep the lads confident in that – that we’re moving forward, being progressive and we’re going to come through this, and that’s the way I’m approaching it.
“I’m not approaching it like ‘this is a must-win game, this is a must-win game’.
“We can’t just stagger from must-win game to must-win game, we’ve got to try and get on that upward slope of where we feel like we’re moving forwards and that we will get where we need to be.
“I feel like we’re on that, and I’ve got to try to work very hard to maintain that and keep that feeling that we’re progressing.”
