Depending on how you judge it Bristol Bears are on track to be the best promoted side since Exeter Chiefs - and we all know how that worked out.
After a life time out of the top flight Exeter won promotion to the Premiership in 2010.
In 2017 they beat Wasps 23-20 at Twickenham to be named Champions for the first time, and their position as one of the best clubs in the country is far from slipping; after being beaten in the final last season the Devonian side are currently top of the standings by nine points in 2018/19.
So if Bristol can follow in their footsteps it will be happy days for years to come.
Pat Lam has certainly be studying how they transformed the club’s fortunes in Exeter.
He said: “I did all this research before I got here, I am not stupid, and you look at teams even like Exeter Chiefs, and you look at what their journey was like and their first season in the Premiership.
“If you look at the Premiership over the last 10 years Bristol have only been in it once, everyone else has been in it for at least nine years, and they have been building.
Pat Lam warns Bristol Bears to not let panic set in at key stage in the season
“I look at Exeter and I look at Saracens and ‘ol'e’ [they are playing great rugby] - 10 years of a coaching team working their stuff and I would say Mark McCall and Rob Baxter, when they were coming eighth and 10th, were saying this is experience.
“Anyone that was going to take this job needs a lot of patience.”
Bristol still have four games to play in the Gallagher Premiership this season but they have already amassed more points, 37, than any promoted side since Exeter’s first season in the top flight in 2010/2011, when they finished eighth with 43 points.
In fact if Bristol continue as they go on they are set to finish with the highest match points per game, 2.05, tries scored per game, 2.5 and average points scored per game, 23.2 in the last decade.
The other side topping the stats are the impressively strong 2008/09 Northampton Saints side who finished with the most points, best defence and joint most wins, 10, out of any promoted side in the last decade.
Here at Bristol Live we have taken a comprehensive look at how the promoted sides from the last decade compare.
*Bold indicates have the best score in the last decade.
2018/2019 (In progress) - Bristol
Games won: 6
Points per game: 2.05
Tries scored per game: 2.5
Tries against per game: 3.7
Points scored per game: 23.2
Points against per game: 28.2
Total points: 37
League position 9th
Siale Piutau battles through personal tragedy to take the field for Bristol Bears
2017/2018 - London Irish
Games won: 3
Points per game: 1
Tries scored per game: 1.9
Tries against per game: 3.9
Points scored per game:17.5
Points against per game: 29.6
Total points: 22
League position 12th
2016/2017 - Bristol
Games won: 3
Points per game: 0.9
Tries scored per game: 1.9
Tries against per game: 4.3
Points scored per game: 17.4
Points against per game: 32.1
Total points: 20
League position 12th
How Bristol Bears came close to adding rising world rugby star Kane Leaupepe
2015/2016 - Worcester Warriors
Games won: 7
Points per game: 1.6
Tries scored per game: 2.1
Tries against per game: 3.4
Points scored per game: 19.1
Points against per game: 27.1
Total points: 35
League position 10th
2014/2015 - London Welsh
Games won: 0
Points per game: 0.04
Tries scored per game: 1.3
Tries against per game: 6.7
Points scored per game: 10.1
Points against per game: 46.4
Total points: 1
League position 12th
Pat Lam explains why he has handed new deals to speedy Bristol Bears duo
2013/2014 - Newcastle Falcons
Games won: 3
Points per game: 1
Tries scored per game:1.04
Tries against per game: 2.8
Points scored per game: 12.8
Points against per game: 24.8
Total points 22
League position 11th
2012/2013 - London Welsh
Games won: 5
Points per game: 1.04
Tries scored per game: 1.4
Tries against per game: 3.04
Points scored per game: 18.7
Points against per game: 28.1
Total points: 23
League position 12th
2011/2012 - Worcester Warriors
Games won: 7
Points per game: 1.6
Tries scored per game: 1.04
Tries against per game: 2.1
Points scored per game: 14.6
Points against per game: 20.4
Total points: 36
League position 10th
2010/2011 - Exeter Chiefs
Games won: 10
Points per game: 1.95
Tries scored per game: 1.5
Tries against per game: 1.9
Points scored per game: 19.5
Points against per game: 20.9
Total points: 43
League position 8th
2009/2010 - Leeds Carnegie
Games won: 7
Points per game: 1.6
Tries scored per game: 0.8
Tries against per game: 2.2
Points scored per game: 12.9
Points against per game; 22.4
Total points: 36
League position 10th
2008/2009
Northampton Saints
Games won: 10
Points per game: 2.2
Tries scored per game: 1.9
Tries against per game: 1.8
Points scored per game: 20.1
Points against per game: 19.7
Total points: 49
League position 8th
