Photo: Exeter Rugby Club / Pinnacle Photo Agency

Chiefs reveal side to face Gloucester tomorrow

Exeter Chiefs' head coach Rob Baxter believes the efforts his players have put in this season in the Aviva Premiership means they should be crowned with a place amongst Europe's elite next term.

With just tomorrow's sold-out home date against Gloucester remaining for the Devon club, they enter into Round 22 knowing a Heineken Cup place is within their grasp.

Victory for the Chiefs this weekend will not only guarantee them of the final qualification spot, but it could also see Baxter's side leapfrog their rivals in the league standings and potentially claim fifth spot for a second successive season.

However, fighting for the same space are Bath - who themselves face a testing final day trip to Saracens - after their latest win at home to Leicester Tigers saw them keep their own European aspirations alive and kicking.

For Baxter, his focus - and that of his team - is solely on the visit of the Cherry & Whites and ensuring they continue their impressive run of Premiership form that has seen them win five of their last six games.

"To be at this stage of the season with still something very important to fight for is an important place to be," said Baxter. "The fact it's for a Heineken Cup place is just fantastic. I've said before, it's not the be all or end all if we do or don't get into the Heineken Cup, but what is important is that we keep developing and we keep taking steps forward. The last four or five weeks have been great for us and I look at the way the players have attacked games, especially to go after the top half of the Premiership and that makes me immensely proud.

"They have shown it's very important to them to be seen as a good side in the Premiership and that they want the challenge of the Heineken Cup. Now it's in their hands because they have worked extremely hard to create this scenario, one in which they are just one game away from making important things happen. Now they have to go out grab it with two hands, not be afraid of it, and be excited about it."

Buoyed by their impressive win at London Wasps a fortnight ago, it’s little wonder that Baxter sticks with an unchanged match-day squad for their final outing. That means the Chiefs will again be led out by long-serving No.8 Richard Baxter, who will be pulling on an Exeter jersey for the final time. In a 16-year career with the club, the 34-year-old forward has amassed over 430 appearances and scored 126 tries.

His departure will certainly be a void, as will the retirements of fellow Chiefs Simon Alcott, Kevin Barrett, Chris Budgen and Junior Poluleuligaga, but one final victory would certainly be a fitting finale for all five players.

"It's always a bitter sweet time of year," explained the head coach. "On one hand you're starting to achieve things and you're close to knocking off something with possibly getting in the Heineken Cup. On the other hand, you're saying goodbye to some good guys. Here at Exeter we pride ourselves that we are a squad full of good men, so when they leave it does hurt.

"Sometimes things have to change. You know we can't keep together that group that were all together in the Championship whether we want to or not. What I do know is that they've all given us some fantastic memories and we wish them well in the future."

As for the game itself, Baxter knows Gloucester will themselves be looking to wrap up their own season on a high point and has warned his troops to expect a stern battle come kick-off at 2.30pm.

"I'm expecting another tough game," he added. "They are not fifth in the league for no reason and I say every week that the league table doesn't lie. They are fifth because they deserve to be there and they've won some important games this year. They've been knocking on the door of the top four for most of the season and in a lot of people's eyes they will say they have had a pretty successful season.

"That said, what you have to do in big Premiership games of rugby is make the game as much about yourselves and not the opposition. I'm sure Gloucester will come here looking to enforce themselves on the game, so we've got to do the same and make sure more key moments go our way. We've managed to do that quite a bit in recent games, so we just need to ram it home again this weekend."

Certainly the Chiefs have finished the current campaign in good form and Baxter wants one final hurrah from his players before they depart for a well-earned summer break.

He continued: "We always felt we would finish the season strongly, so we've always been relatively comfortable with our league position throughout the year. It's in our hands, we are where we want to be, we're in that top half of the Premiership and now is the time to show some ambition and say we are fighting for a top five, top six place.

"Again it's been a great season for us. We're a better attacking side, we're scoring more tries and defensively we're more sound, so most areas we've shown improvement again in what has been a more competitive Premiership. Right now I feel we're heading in the right direction, which is the most important thing. There will be the odd result you'll take along the way, but for us it's more about the bigger picture.

"Right now we are moving forward and I'm comfortable with where we are. I think we are developing, on and off the field, so it will be nice to get a tangible reward for a big season at the final whistle in the final game."

15 Luke Arscott
14 Jack Nowell
13 Phil Dollman
12 Jason Shoemark
11 Matt Jess
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Haydn Thomas
1 Brett Sturgess
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Hoani Tui
4 Dean Mumm
5 Damian Welch
6 Ben White
7 James Scaysbrook
8 Richard Baxter (capt)

16 Chris Whitehead
17 Carl Rimmer
18 Craig Mitchell
19 Aly Muldowney
20 Dave Ewers
21 Will Chudley
22 Henry Slade
23 Ian Whitten