Chiefs side to face Sharks

By Mark Stevens

Whilst thoughts of a potential end-of-season European Play-Off may have occupied the thoughts of many Exeter Chiefs supporters in the past week, head coach Rob Baxter insists he and his team are focused solely on tomorrow's visit of Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership (3pm).

With the new-look format finally sorted for next season and beyond, the Chiefs are well aware that the battle to get amongst Europe's elite is going to go to the wire over these final three rounds.

After successive losses to both Leicester Tigers and Gloucester, Baxter's side positioned themselves back into the crucial seventh spot with last weekend's 38-33 victory over lowly Worcester Warriors.

The task now, however, is for Devon's finest to remain in that position (or better) during these dying embers of the season.

Sale, who stand 11 points and one place better off than the Chiefs currently, pose the first of three battles, before Harlequins (home) and Newcastle Falcons (away) wrap up the domestic campaign.

Baxter is well aware of the potential prize on offer to his side and says it's vital that the Chiefs use last week's victory as the springboard for a big final push for points.

"Obviously we're in seventh place at the moment and holding onto that last potential qualifying spot," said Baxter. "We know now there is going to be a play-off in either the one or two weeks following the end of the season for seventh place, so I suppose it's in our hands really.

"Our approach this week is going to be very much like last week, where we are going to maximise the opportunity to play 80 minutes in the Premiership. That kind of suits us to be single-minded about a single game. It stood us in good stead against Worcester and I'm sure it will stand us in good stead for this weekend."

Asked if he was frustrated that it had taken until now to know the full mechanics of the new-look Europe, Baxter simply replied: "No, not really.

"The reality is we've known all season that you have to be in the top half of the league if you want to play in Europe's top competition. If anything this is something that has dropped in at the last moment for us because we want to play in the top level of European competition and it does throws us a bit of a lifeline.

"Mathematically we can still finish sixth, but realistically we are going to have to have one hell of an end to these last few games to get that many points, whilst Sale are going to have to have to three disappointing games.

"For us it's more about focusing on this game and then seeing what our points add up to at the end. If we are in seventh - great - and we will be going over to France and then enjoying getting a team to play us somewhere over here. But, as I said, it's more important we just concentrate on this game."

Having already overcome Sale on their own turf this season, the Chiefs will be hoping to wrap up a successful league double against the Sharks, who results-wise have picked up significantly on previous years.

"Sale are having a good season," warned Baxter. "They're a good side and they have got things to prove to cement themselves in the top six. As I said, it's not really about looking at what will happen in three games time, it's more about what's going to happen come 5.30pm this Saturday.

"The truth is seventh place is in our hands. We are there at the moment so we just have to get more points than the people around us. Of course that's a challenge for us, we have some tough games to play against Sale and Quins here and then Newcastle away. Right now both Sale and Quins are fighting for European qualification and the top four and Newcastle could well be fighting against relegation.

"That said, we went to Worcester and put in a very good performance against a side who are improving and who are fighting like dogs to get themselves out of danger. I know we can deal with that pressure and we just have to enjoy what we do. The weather is nice, the pitches are firming up and we like to play attacking rugby. For us it's about being brave enough to ram that home."

Team news for the Chiefs sees Baxter stick largely with the personnel that were so successful at Sixways a week ago. The sole change to the starting XV sees skipper Dean Mumm revert back into the second-row as Don Armand (ankle) is ruled out. Mumm's switch means a recall to the ranks for Ben White (pictured) on the open-side flank.

On the bench, there is also just one change as experienced prop Hoani Tui offers back-up at tight-head in place of Welsh international Craig Mitchell.

Tickets for the game are still available online by clicking here

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE SALE SHARKS

15 Phil Dollman
14 Fetu'u Vainikolo
13 Ian Whitten
12 Sam Hill
11 Matt Jess
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Dave Lewis
1 Ben Moon
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Alex Brown
4 Dean Mumm (capt)
5 Damian Welch
6 Dave Ewers
7 Ben White
8 Kai Horstmann

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie
17 Carl Rimmer
18 Hoani Tui
19 James Phillips
20 James Scaysbrook
21 Haydn Thomas
22 Henry Slade
23 Luke Arscott