HOOKER Neil Clark feels Exeter Chiefs are reaping the rewards of having a close-knit squad this season.

The Sandy Park outfit sit four points clear at the top of the Championship following Sunday's 35-26 win at Bristol.

While Clark hopes the squad do not get carried away by their success at the start of the campaign, he says they can take a lot of confidence from winning their first five games.

Exeter are the only side with an unbeaten record in the division after ending Bristol's run of wins.

Clark thinks the secret lies in the close relationship between the players and coaches.

"We've got things to fight for this year and the boys are working really hard for each other," said Clark.

"We've got a great set of coaches, a great set of players and we're just like one big happy family.

"We're enjoying playing for each other but we've got to keep moving on."

Just like head coach Rob Baxter, Clark was quick to play down the importance of Sunday's defeat of his former employers Bristol.

The top eight sides go into a promotion play-off from the middle of March and that's when results really matter.

Exeter can progress towards the play-offs with confidence now after showing they can mix it with the top teams in the Championship.

"There's a long way to go, we've got to take confidence from it but we can't get ahead of ourselves," said Clark.

"We're happy with the way we're playing and our confidence is high. We knew it was going to be tough going up there and we had to throw everything at it.

"Bristol is a hard place to go and play. With the crowd you can't hear a thing. Fortunately the boys dug in, we knew what we had to do.

"It's great to come away from Bristol with a five-point win. It's a great stepping stone and we've got to keep moving on.

"We made mistakes so we've got things to work on, but it's a long old season."

Exeter have a chance to equal their best ever start to a league campaign this weekend, when they host London Welsh.

The Chiefs won their opening six league games in the 1995/96 season in the old Division Four and they went on to win the section and claim promotion.

Clark said: "It's going to be a massive test, London Welsh are probably the most underrated side in the league.

"We have to give them the respect they deserve. They're a great side and we know they travel well."