HEAD coach Mike Ford says the prospect of finishing 2014 top of the Aviva Premiership adds no extra incentive for Bath Rugby this weekend.

Second-placed Bath host Exeter Chiefs at The Rec and a win over their West County rivals - coupled with a defeat for leaders Northampton Saints at Harlequins - would put them top of the pile heading into the new year.

Bath and third-in-the-table Chiefs have upset the established top-four order so far in 2014-15 and although Ford concedes it would be a nice carrot, the only league position that concerns him is the one his team occupy at the end of the season.

“We’ve both probably thrown out what people thought would be the top four right now, but we know more than most it doesn’t matter where you are now, all that matters is where you are in May,” said Ford.

“We could have been top now if Northampton hadn’t scored right at the end last weekend, or would have been top before if we’d got the ball down again at Franklin’s Gardens.

“It’s all about fine margins and we’ve just got to try to get better and better.

“We are happy with where we are now and if we win this weekend then great but if we lose it won’t define anything.”

Both sides will arrive at The Rec in fine form, with Bath’s record 39-16 win at Gloucester last week their sixth straight win.

Exeter were beaten at Sale Sharks last time out but had won eight games in a row in all competitions beforehand.

Ford added: “Exeter have improved every year. We have to try to contain them.

“They’ve kept their attacking principles and are still very dangerous but what they’ve done this year is improve their defence as well.

“To go on an eight-match winning run is fantastic.

“We are in a good place ourselves right now and have been for a few weeks.

“People can say we didn’t play as well as we can at Gloucester but we adapted to the situation really well and came away with a record win. I don’t know what more we could do.”