Exeter Chiefs ready to face Sale Sharks tonight

Exeter Chiefs are ready to unleash Fijian flyer Watisoni Votu into the Aviva Premiership when they travel to lowly Sale Sharks tonight (7.45pm).

The 27-year-old has impressed many in his opening two displays against Bath and Northampton Saints in the LV= Cup, but Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter wants to see even more from his new back in the first of a crucial four-game run of Premiership fixtures for the Devon club.

Having not tackled top flight action for a month, the Chiefs are looking to get their Premiership campaign firmly back on track against the division's basement club.

Baxter and assistant coach Ali Hepher know, however, that the Sharks are fighting for their lives and that they have made no secret of the fact they are targeting the visit of the Chiefs as the ideal opportunity to close the gap on their rivals at the foot of the table.

"These are really important games now," said the head coach. "We want to do well in this year's Premiership. We've been in the Heineken Cup this year and really enjoyed it, we'd like to be there again and that's going to depend on how well we go in the Premiership now.

"Every game is going to be very important. I'm expecting us to play like we did against Northampton (in the LV= Cup), almost as if every game is the game that matters.

"It's exciting entering these four games and where you could potentially go. That's how I want to approach it. I don't want us to be fretting about where the season might go, I want us to be excited about how far we can fire ourselves."

It's a point echoed by Hepher, who added: "They've already said in the press that they are targeting this game, which is great because it gives us a real incentive to go and play well. We can't afford to be caught cold by that and we have to be as desperate and as ambitious as them.

"We need to keep pushing up this league and if we have a good month now, I think it will put us in a really good position. As always we are fully focused on ourselves; we've had a good couple of weeks in the LV and that's been backed up by some good performances against some of the best clubs in Europe. Right now we are in a good place, but we need to kick on and produce a good performance that will end in good results."

Votu is one of seven changes the Chiefs show from the side that lost to Northampton in their last Premiership encounter at the start of January. The Fijian comes in on the right wing for Gonzalo Camacho, whilst other changes see inclusions for Jack Nowell on the other wing in place of Matt Jess; Jason Shoemark and Sireli Naqelevuki team up in the centre; while up front skipper Tom Hayes, Ben White and James Scaysbrook also return.

On the bench, summer signing Kai Horstmann is included in a Premiership squad for the first time having fully recovered from a long-term hamstring problem.

Explaining the changes, Baxter - whose side will be chasing a sixth successive Premiership win over the Sharks - admitted selection this week had been particularly tough following some notable displays from a large number of his squad in recent weeks.

Baxter explained: "It's tough on Jessy, he's been a key player for us in a lot of games, but when a guy's on form it's time to keep him in and keep having a look at him. It's nothing against Jessy's form, we just think Vot's is on form and he's creating opportunities. We're really pleased with him, his physicality and the impacts he's made have been good.

"It's a bit the same with Jack Nowell. When you look at the games he's played recently, he's scored tries and that's a great attribute to have. He's making a difference and when a guy's on that form, when the ball gets to them they're doing things, it's the right time to keep them in. Our policy in the Premiership is that we want to go for it and I think that shows our intent."

Connacht-bound Aly Muldowney provides cover for locks Hayes and Dean Mumm from the bench, but Baxter said all of them have to play well as Damian Welch is another close to getting the nod.

"Damian can count himself very unlucky. There was some good ball-carrying and line-out work from him last week and he's right up there in the mix," said Baxter. "He probably feels frustrated but his moments are right around the corner because some front five forwards are going to have to perform very well to keep him out."

Tomorrow's game will also see a few milestones with Gareth Steenson poised to make his 100th league appearance for the club, whilst Haydn Thomas is set for his 150th competitive game for the club should he get summoned from the bench.

For the full line up click here.

Photo: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency