Exeter Chiefs name strong side to face Gloucester

With just four rounds of the regular season remaining, Exeter Chiefs host Gloucester on Sunday in-front of a sold out crowd at Sandy Park.

The defending champions currently sit top of the pile, eight points clear of next best Saracens, and ten clear of third-place Wasps.

Chiefs head coach Ali Hepher acknowledges the Chiefs must look to strengthen their grip on proceedings, starting with Sunday's clash against Gloucester at a packed out Sandy Park (3pm). Speaking to Exeter Chiefs TV, he said: "We've been working towards this for a long time now," said Hepher. "Things are getting more exciting by the week, but we know we have a tough challenge at the weekend against a Gloucester side, who are flying high and going strong at the moment.

"This is the beauty of the Premiership, right the way until the final weekend most years you have something to play for. We have lots to fight for, as have they. We're expecting Gloucester to be full bore, but they'll also get us full bore. It's a great challenge for us to have, but these are the challenges you need to make sure you peak at the end of the season."

"We know Gloucester have threats across the board and Johan has done a great job pulling them together. They play with an open style, bring lots of line speed, and come at you from all angles. That said, the important thing is we make sure we get ourselves right and that we make sure we get our prep in place, then turn up in the right shape and hopefully get the win."

England international Don Armand will lead the Chiefs into battle against the Cherry & Whites and he is one of a number of 13 players who are brought back into the starting line-up having been rested last weekend.

Just Dave Dennis and Joe Simmonds are retained from last week's starters, while there are returns to the match-day squad for both Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jack Nowell after recent ankle injuries, as well as winger Olly Woodburn, who missed out on facing his former club at the Rec last month.

"We've got a large majority of the squad available to us," Hepher added. "The medical team have done a great job in getting a few of the guys back from injury, so now we're looking to put the hammer down and really hit our straps in terms of performance over these last few weeks.

Chiefs side to face Gloucester 

15 Lachie Turner

14 Ian Whitten

13 Henry Slade

12 Sam Hill

11 Olly Woodburn

10 Joe Simmonds

9 Nic White

1 Alec Hepburn

2 Luke Cowan-Dickie

3 Tomas Francis

4 Sam Skinner

5 Jonny Hill

6 Dave Dennis

7 Don Armand (capt)

8 Sam Simmonds

16 Jack Yeandle

17 Ben Moon

18 Greg Holmes

19 Mitch Lees

20 Dave Ewers

21 Stu Townsend

22 Gareth Steenson

23 Jack Nowell