Johann van Graan has told Bath to prepare for a "massive challenge" in a January featuring European Champions Cup games against French giants Racing 92 and Richie Arnold's Toulouse.
Premiership title-contenders Bath came from behind to win 17-10 at home to west country rivals Gloucester on Sunday as they moved up into third place in English rugby union's top flight.
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Their attention will now turn to European encounters with Racing and Toulouse before a busy January sees Bath back in Premiership action with another derby clash away to Bristol.
"In the bigger scheme of things, this was a very important game," said Bath head of rugby Van Graan following a fightback featuring two tries by full-back Tom de Glanville.
"The fact we won will put us in a position among the contenders when we come back in March after the (Premiership) break.
"We are right in it with the fact we won today. We are in a good position, so hopefully February and March will be kind to us."
The 43-year-old South African added: "We have got a pretty healthy squad. If you look at the next three weeks in isolation -- Racing at home, Toulouse away and then Bristol away -- we have got a massive challenge ahead of us."
De Glanville, the son of former England captain Phil de Glanville, scored a try in each half, with wing Mill Muir also crossing Gloucester's line and Scotland fly-half Finn Russell adding a lone conversion.
For second-bottom Gloucester, a ninth successive Premiership loss represented their worst run of results in the competition's history.
The Cherry and Whites had led 10-5 at half-time thanks to a Ruan Ackermann try, plus a conversion and penalty from Russell's fellow Scotland international Adam Hastings.
"I think if we had played liked that all season, we would be in a different part of the table," said Gloucester boss George Skivington.
"I am pretty pleased with what I saw. I know we didn't win the game, and probably a draw would have been a fair result.
"I haven't got too many complaints. The boys' attitude was outstanding. When we stuck to the plan, we looked good."
