Exeter Chiefs name side to face London Welsh

Ricky Pellow insists Exeter Chiefs are "raring to go" as they prepare to kick-off their LV= Cup campaign away to top flight rivals London Welsh at the Kassam Stadium on Sunday (4pm).

Having tackled the rigorous demands of the Aviva Premiership and the Heineken Cup in recent weeks, the Chiefs will now switch their attentions to that of the Anglo-Welsh competition.

With a European place up for grabs for the eventual winner, Pellow - who along with fellow coach Rob Gibson will take charge of the Devon club during the competition - it represents another worthy challenge for the Chiefs to get stuck into.

"It's a massively exciting competition for us," said Pellow. "Obviously we have been playing in the Premiership and the Heineken Cup and really attacking those competitions, but now we're moving into the LV= Cup and that's a new challenge again.  As a team nothing really changes in how we approach things, whatever competition Exeter are in we always look to attack it from minute one.

"We've been talking in the meetings this week that we want to see individuals put in performances - and that collectively we want everything to come together - because if it does, then quite often the result will look after itself. Our aim this weekend will be to go to London Welsh and hit them with everything we've got and look to put in a big performance."

Certainly the Chiefs have shown just that mindset in recent weeks in both the Premiership and Heineken Cup - and although a number of their frontline stars will be given a well-deserved break from the action this weekend, Pellow insists the opportunity is there for others within the Exeter squad to take on the baton against Welsh.

"We've got a nice blend to the squad," added Pellow. "The energy they've displayed this week has been outstanding. That comes not just from the young guys as you would expect, but also the senior guys as well. They've all been chatting and communicating and the guys you can see are raring to go."

As Pellow eluded too, the blend within the visiting camp is certainly impressive with experience provided by the likes of Neil Clark, Chris Budgen, Ben Moon, Hoani Tui, Damian Welch, Junior Poluleuligaga, Myles Dorrian, Nic Sestaret and Mark Foster - whilst an array of the club's talented young guns are also given their shot to impress.

England Under-20s starlets Jack Arnott, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Hill, Jack Nowell and Henry Slade have all been recalled from their Championship clubs where they are dual-registered, whilst the Exeter coaching team will also be keen to run the rule over the likes of Jack Yeandle, Will Carrick-Smith, Joel Conlon and Justin Blanchet - all of whom are included in a senior squad for the first time.

And Pellow says the opportunity to shine is there for all of the Exeter players, adding: "The academy guys have been playing in the Championship this year and doing really well for their respective clubs, but now we've got them back and it's their chance to stake a claim. We want to see them transfer the learning they've done with their loan clubs onto the pitch this Sunday.

"At the same time, those senior guys that have been battling hard and training hard, but not had as much game time as they would have liked, this is an opportunity for them to come through and put their hands up."

Standing in the way of the Chiefs on Sunday, however, will be a Welsh side who have already tasted victory over Exeter this season in the Premiership. Back in September the top flight's newest additions secured a narrow 25-24 win and Pellow knows this latest match-up will be equally as tough.

"Whatever side they put out on Sunday, we know it's a tough place to go," warned Pellow. "It will be a real physical battle up there and one which we have to stand up too. They have a good driving line-out and their set-piece is also very strong, which gives them the platform from which to build. It's all areas we have identified this week and we've worked hard to try and combat that threat."

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE LONDON WELSH

15 Jack Nowell 14 Jack Arnott 13 Nic Sestaret 12 Myles Dorrian 11 Mark Foster 10 Henry Slade 9 Junior Poluleuligaga (capt) 1 Ben Moon 2 Neil Clark 3 Chris Budgen 4 Damian Welch 5 Will Carrick-Smith 6 Joel Conlon 7 Justin Blanchet 8 Dave Ewers

16 Jack Yeandle 17 Luke Cowan-Dickie 18 Hoani Tui 19 Jamie Gray 20 Sam Simmonds 21 Rob Coote 22 Sam Hill 23 Mike Pope