Deeside Dragons are top of the Laidler Conference after a comprehensive 9-1 win over Coventry Blaze on Sunday night.
Success at the Skydome means Deeside are now two points clear of Nottingham Lions – and with a game in hand.
They face the Lions at the National Ice Centre next Sunday – and Paul praised his side’s determination in reaching top spot.
He said: “It is great to be top of the league and the guys really deserve it. I’ve said before, though, that staying top is a much bigger challenge.
“It means the game against Nottingham next weekend could be a league decider. If we beat them, they’ll have lost four, and us just one, so it will put us in the right direction.
“We’ll go there with 19 or 20 players and although it’s a long bus ride, the guys will be told to bring their A game.”
Sunday’s victory came courtesy of goals from Adrian Palak (four), Filip Supa (two), Aled Roberts, Andrew Chappell and skipper Marc Lovell.
It followed a 4-2 home success over Hull Jets on Saturday evening - and for Paul, illustrates a lingering inconsistency within his playing ranks.
He added: “The guys seem to play either really well, like tonight, or really badly, like we did on Saturday. But if we’re winning, then that is the main thing.
“I would rather us win ugly and a four-point weekend will do for me. We’re top of the league and have a massive game against Nottingham to look forward to.”
Deeside survived an early scare, on Saturday night against Hull when the visitors snatched a goal after just four minutes of the first period.
Deeside had to wait until the 36th minute to equalise, as Hull threatened to turn the Laidler Conference form book on its head.
And a Dragons rally late in the third period sealed the points against a determined Jets outfit.
Paul said: “Credit to Hull, they put an awful lot of effort in. We got the puck up as fast as we could and eventually triumphed.
“We look at it as every game is a final for us. Other teams are bringing their A game, so we won’t get any easy matches.
That early Hull strike was cancelled out by Filip Supa on 36 minutes, before the Jets regained the lead with just eight minutes of the game remaining.
An immediate reply from Marc Lovell pulled Deeside back level on 55 minutes, ahead of further goals from Supa and Alex Parry.
The Dragons have the chance to stretch their lead at the summit of the Laidler Conference when they travel to Nottingham Lions on Sunday night (7.30pm).
