Bristol head coach Mark Tainton is targeting a first Aviva Premiership win against fellow strugglers Worcester on Boxing Day after European competition brought an upturn in fortunes.
The Premiership's bottom club beat Pau home and away to keep their Challenge Cup hopes alive and provide a significant morale boost ahead of a defining set of domestic fixtures.
Bristol's next two games are against Worcester and Sale - the two teams directly above them in the table - and offer a possible road to salvation after 10 straight league defeats.
"The way we have performed over the past two weeks in the European Challenge Cup has been very encouraging, but the impetus is now on the players to translate those performances into the league," Tainton said.
"My message to the players is to go out there and not take a backwards step; play with pride and the same freedom that has seen us make significant strides in our game."
Samoan centre Tusi Pisi returns to the backline for the first time since October following a groin problem.
While Dan Tuohy, Olly Robinson and Nick Fenton-Wells also return, but injured duo Jordan Crane and Jonathan Fisher are unavailable for the Ashton Gate clash.