BATH back Matt Banahan is setting his sights high this season with focus firmly on winning the Aviva Premiership.

The West Country side have qualified for the quarter-finals of the European Rugby Challenge Cup after finishing top of Pool 4 with five wins from six games.

Todd Blackadder’s side face Brive in two months’ time, but before then Banahan wants his colleagues to focus on taking the trophy from Saracens’ grasp, with the club hosting Harlequins this afternoon (3pm).

After European competition and Anglo-Welsh Cup action Bath returned to Aviva Premiership Rugby with the side in fourth position, but Banahan sees no reason why they cannot continue to climb the table.

“We want to win it. We’re in a position that we can,” said the 30-year-old. “If we just want to win a European place then concentration levels will slip.

“We want to come top, we want to win this championship and that’s why we’re here, that’s why we play in it.

“We’re in a good position to push for that coming towards the end of the year and in the meantime we’ve got a quarter final against Brive in two months in the European Challenge Cup.

“So we’re in two championships, looking good for the rest of the year and hopefully we can push on and get some silverware at the end.”

The RBS 6 Nations inevitably strip clubs of their premier players, meaning Bath are without key men such as George Ford, Jonathan Joseph and the, albeit injured, Anthony Watson.

Semesa Rokoduguni featured for the Red Rose in the Autumn internationals, but with head coach Eddie Jones not seeming to favour the flying winger – despite his hat-trick when given a chance against Fiji – Banahan thinks England’s loss is Bath’s gain.

But that is not to say the Bath man does not want to see his teammate miss out on a crack at international rugby.

“I find it hard to see how someone who is top in terms of metres gained, defenders beaten and tries scored can be overlooked,” added Banahan.

“But if there’s not a place in a team that’s winning then you can only push the buck for when they lose or somebody gets injured.

“They’re doing well at the moment England and hopefully they’ll keep winning and get a good position in the RBS 6 Nations, but hopefully Rokoduguni, when the door opens, he’ll take it”

Banahan was speaking at the launch of this year’s Aviva #DriveSafer campaign alongside team-mates Francois Louw and Guy Mercer.

As part of the campaign, Aviva and all 12 Premiership Rugby clubs are highlighting the dangers of dangerous driving caused by distractions, with a particular focus on the use of mobile phones.

“Using the Aviva Drive app to save money on your car insurance is an easy way to encourage sensible behaviour on the roads,” added Banahan.

“Whether it’s a text or a call, there’s always time to pick it up when you aren’t in the car and save yourself the unnecessary risk.”

Bath Rugby are proud to support Aviva, title sponsor of Premiership Rugby, on their #DriveSafer campaign and help raise awareness of dangerous driving. Download the Aviva Drive app to see how safe your driving is at www.aviva.co.uk/car-insurance/drive