Chudley ready for visit of Falcons

Will Chudley admits Exeter Chiefs have entered the business end of the season with an Aviva Premiership Rugby top-four spot still well within their sights.

The Chiefs have stumbled somewhat recently after their great start to the Aviva Premiership Rugby season, losing their last four games to fall to fifth in the table.

Just five points separate third from eighth place at present and, with Newcastle Falcons set to visit Sandy Park on Saturday, scrum-half Chudley is keen to get back to winning ways.

The Chiefs' only defeat at home in their last ten fixtures in all tournaments was inflicted by Gloucester Rugby on January 3, and Chudley says the Falcons clash is the start of a crucial period which could reignite their season.

"It's a massive block of games for us and obviously to start well is really important to any team," said Chudley, whose side face fellow top-four hopefuls Harlequins and Bath Rugby after facing Newcastle.

"You just want to get that first win in the bag and keep being competitive for the last games of that block.

"We tend to lose against those lower down the table, and I think that is a massive thing we have worked on in the last four weeks. It is a massive block for us and we're going to go all for it.

"We just take each game as it comes, you just get on with it.

"We learned a lot from that last block of games about ourselves and we've put a lot of things right, we've changed stuff. We're fully equipped and prepared for this massive block.

"When looking at all fronts, we are competing on all fronts and it is important for us. But at the same time it's no good going at the end of the year competing on all fronts and not getting where we wanted to. Now is the time to really start pushing on."

Newcastle ran out 29-24 winners in the reverse fixture at Kingston Park in October - Noah Cato and Sinoti Sinoti on the scoresheet for Falcons.

Chudley knows a thing or two about the threats Saturday's visitors could pose, having spent the 2011/12 season playing for the North East club.

And the 26-year-old is looking forward to getting one over his old club.

"They are a very much improved side," Chudley added. "They attack, they have got a good defence, it's going to be a good game. Hopefully we get a good crowd and it will be a nice dry day and hopefully we can entertain the crowd and get the win."