Pat Lam has told Nathan Hughes the next three games are his chance to win back his England jersey.
The summer signing was one of the surprise casualties of England head coach Eddie Jones' selection for the Rugby World Cup in Japan, with the national side reaching the final before losing to South Africa.
But Hughes has been nothing sort of a revelation since joining Bristol, winning man of the match plaudits and regularly leading the way in the stats for attacking metres gained, clean breaks, defenders beaten and offloads.
The Fijian born backrower put in another barnstorming performance in the 16-18 victory over Stade Francais on Sunday in the European Challenge Cup along with captain for the day Chris Vui.
Speaking after the match, Bears director of rugby Pat Lam said: "I was really pleased with Nathan Hughes and Chris Vui.
"I had a quiet word with Nate. He is going to be in this run now to push to get his place back with England.
"He is in really good form and he stepped it up here again. We have got Saracens next week and then Wasps so all the big games are coming for him. He is in good form, good nick, and in a really good space."
While Hughes England axing came as a disappointment to the number eight, it has been an added bonus for his Gallagher Premiership club with the big ball carrier playing regularly for the Bears during the World Cup period.
With winning the bottom line in professional sport Lam could be forgiven for wanting his star man to not wanting his star man to be called-up for the Six Nations campaign, but that is not how the Bristol boss thinks.
He said: "I want all the boys to be playing for England, that’s the sort of team I want us to be. I want to be preparing for the Six Nations knowing all our players are going to be out there, that’s what gives me adrenalin, that is what our programme is about.
"We want as many making the England programme as possible and that is why we have got to have depth in our squad and competition.
"I want players saying if I go to Bristol and the team plays well then I will get selected for my country."
With England's first choice number eight Billy Vunipola likely to be opposite Hughes this weekend the trip to Alliance Park provides the Bears man with a chance to prove himself head-to-head.
Hughes said: "There is competition every week.
"When you play in the Premiership you want to be the best person in your position every week, whether you are playing Saracens, Exeter, Wasps.
"This week we have got Saracens, Billy will be playing, and it is an exciting challenge and I am looking forward to it.
"He will probably be looking forward to it as well.
"But if you focus on one player too much sometimes it can take over you, you have to just work about yourself and review their whole team because on the field you may never mark him, you might be marking his brother or someone like that."
Samoan captain Chris Vui also had one of his best games of the season playing at blindside in France and leading the side for the first time this season.
Lam said: "Chris Vui was outstanding.
"He is a quiet leader and he leads by example. But when he does speak the boys listen.
"I thought he was tremendous.
"We didn’t have Steven Luatua here or John Afoa, but him and Nathan stepped up and led that team."
