Flanker Carl Fearns says Bath Rugby will not be feeling sorry for themselves as they refocus their attentions on winning the Amlin Cup after missing out on the Aviva Premiership play-offs.
Bath had been inside the Premiership top four for much of the campaign but a 19-16 defeat to Harlequins on the final day of the regular season on Saturday saw them drop to fifth as Quins climbed above them to book a trip to table toppers Saracens in the semi-finals.
Mike Ford's side can still end the season with a trophy and will take on Northampton Saints at Cardiff Arms Park in the Amlin Cup final on Friday, May 23.
Although the squad are still feeling pretty low at the moment, Fearns reckons Bath will have no problems in lifting themselves for the European showdown.
Fearns, 24, said: "Everyone was gutted in the changing rooms after the game because we've put in a massive amount of work throughout the season and for us to come up just that bit short is devastating.
"We really felt that we deserved to finish in the top four because we've been playing some really good stuff.
"We've come up short but we've just got to focus on that Amlin Cup fixture now, otherwise this season will be seen as not a very good one.
"We've got some really good leaders in our squad and we will pick ourselves up. We will look forward to that final and won't be moping about or talking about what ifs.
"We've got to go to that final and try to get some silverware, which we feel we deserve."
Bath came up agonisingly short in Saturday's winner-takes-all clash, with Quins' incredible end-of-season form proving decisive.
The Londoners won each of their final five games to sneak into the play-offs by the narrowest of margins. Both they and Bath finished the campaign with 67 points but Quins qualify due to a higher number of wins.
Fearns added: "It was always going to be tough facing a Quins side after the run they were on. They've spoke about it being their Mount Everest after winning three or four other games they had to win. They had that momentum.
"But the effort of the boys on Saturday, and the way they carried and ran into those collisions is something we can be proud of.
"We've come a long way and we only had one win away from home in the league last year. This season we've been very determined to focus on the way we play away from home and that's something we can be proud of."
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