London Welsh head coach Lyn Jones is more than happy with his side’s progress after last season’s promotion.

But he cannot say whether the Aviva Premiership new boys are ahead of schedule after their eventful summer.

Welsh’s promotion to the top flight was only confirmed afer winning their apppeal in late June and the Exiles were playing catch up since then.

“I have no idea of where we were or what was in front of us,” said Jones, whose side host Exeter in the LV Cup tomorrow.

“I have never coached in the Premiership before. I have coached in the Magners (Celtic League) for several years, but this is a different league with different challenges.

“We are really not interested in anybody apart from ourselves. “We are looking at six wins and we are halfway there at the moment. “There is a long way to go and it is a long season. “Injuries are going to dictate where we eventually finish.”

Tomorrow’s match will no doubt be an opportunity for Jones to rotate his squad, but he will hope to maintain the defensive strength that saw them not concede a try in the thrilling 16-9 victory over Bath.

“It is always a benchmark that we all look to,” said Jones.

“You look back at Leicester and conceding five tries, Harlequins, six tries. “The forwards are just starting to understand where to go and what to do. “It takes time, it really does.

It is about building up trust in our teamwork. “When the penny drops with the players, you are away.”

This weekend marks the start of the autumn international, but Welsh have no players in the home nations’ squads.

Jones said: “I am disappointed not to have any reperesentation in the autumn internationals, but that is for next year perhaps.”