Bates' Falcons are in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup

Newcastle Falcons head coach Steve Bates has played down the importance of Friday's trip to fellow strugglers Bristol in the Premiership.

Falcons are currently 11th in the division, seven points above bottom-club Bristol but Bates is refusing to admit the game is a relegation decider.

"It's another Premiership game," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"We'll prepare for it in the same way as any other and there's a long way in this season to go."

Falcons' hopes of avoiding the drop have been juxtaposed by their progress in knock-out competition, much like last season, where the English clubs have enjoyed considerable success in the European Challenge Cup.

Sunday's win at Cetransa booked a quarter-final date with rivals Saracens at Vicarage Road in April, and Bates is hopeful that their confidence will have been boosted by elements of their display in Spain.

"We did a lot of what we said we wanted to do, and did extremely well and that's what we'll take from the game," he said.

"We wanted to use this game as good preparation for the Premiership."

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