Leicester Tigers and Exeter Chiefs meet for the first time since the opening round of the season as Sandy Park hosts a Gallagher Premiership Round 21 encounter between the teams on Sunday.
Premiership finalists in each of the last six seasons, Exeter are again in the top four in the table going into the team’s five-match run-in to the end of the league programme.
They had won four in a row before a 35-31 defeat at Worcester in Round 20 two weeks ago, but have lost just once at home since November while Tigers have not won on their last six trips to Devon.
Tigers’ only defeat in their last six Premiership matches was at Saracens in Round 19.
Head coach Steve Borthwick welcomed players back from England duty this week at the end of the Six Nations and they are all included in the matchday squad, with Ellis Genge named as captain. Ben Youngs, George Ford, Freddie Steward and Ollie Chessum also start, with Nic Dolly among the replacements.
Harry Wells, who is in line for his 99th Premiership appearance, said: “Exeter have been a benchmark over a number of seasons, you’ve seen them perform consistently well in the league and in Europe over that time and it is a tough challenge down there.
“They will see this as a game that is really important as well and it will be really tough.
“We’ve got to recognise the areas where we’ve not been good enough and areas we can improve on to get better and play as well as we can this weekend.”
Exeter boss Rob Baxter includes Sam Simmonds, Henry Slade and Jonny Gray following the Six Nations, though wing Jack Nowell suffered an arm injury in England’s game against France last week and Scotland captain Stuart Hogg is rested. Exeter centre Tom Hendrickson and flanker Jannes Kirsten serve a ban.
“Every game is big now, that’s what makes it exciting,” said Baxter this week.
“If we win, then we give ourselves lots of opportunities for where the season is going to go. If we lose, then it gets tougher for next week and the next week and the next week after that.
“That said, if we do win, then I do think it could potentially hold us in good stead because it’s a challenge which could really develop us to another level of where we probably dropped off last season. I want to see us thriving in this period and I do think we have the capability of doing it, simply because we have the experience and the ability within the side to succeed, it’s just up to us to see it through.
“In this last five to six weeks, the lads have really rolled their sleeves up. To a man, they have got on with it and they have produced some very good performances.
“What we have to do now is push on and find new levels, I think that is in us, but it’s important particularly if we want to beat a team like Leicester.”
Tigers will wear the club’s change colours of white, black and orange on Sunday.
Luke Pearce returns from Six Nations duties to take charge of his 125th Premiership match as referee.
There is live coverage of the game on BT Sport 2HD.
Or you can keep up to date with events using the club’s Matchday Live service on app and website. And look out for full post-match reaction on the club website and social media channels.
Tigers are back on home territory on Tuesday evening when London Irish are the visitors in the last of the pool stage games in the Premiership Rugby Cup. Kick-off is at 7.45pm and tickets are on sale now. Car parking and bus travel are also available in advance.
Book online or phone 0116 319 8888 (option 2). This Cup fixture is included in all season tickets.
Round 21 in full
Friday: Gloucester Rugby v Worcester Warriors cancelled
Saturday: Bath Rugby v Sale Sharks (3.00pm), London Irish v Northampton Saints (3.00pm), Saracens v Bristol Bears (3.00pm), Wasps v Newcastle Falcons (3.00pm).
Sunday: Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers (3.00pm)
