Exeter Chiefs will be aiming to boost their hopes of securing a top-four finish in the Gallagher Premiership when they visit bottom-of-the-table Bath on Sunday.
With four rounds of the regular season remaining, the Chiefs still have their destiny in their own hands as they look to secure a spot in the Premiership play-offs for the seventh time in eight seasons.
However, this promises to be one of the tightest top-four battles in recent times, so Rob Baxter and his team cannot afford any slip-ups when they make the relatively short trip north to the Recreation Ground to take on Bath.
Bath are in danger of propping up the Premiership for the second season in a row, with both their league position and recent form suggesting they could be in for a tough afternoon on Sunday.
Bath vs Exeter Chiefs Betting Tips
Team news
Bath will receive a double boost ahead of this game, as England internationals Ted Hill and Ollie Lawrence are set to feature, the former for the first time since January due to injury, while the latter has returned from Six Nations duty.
Another England star, Will Stuart, is also back in the front row, while there are recalls for captain Ben Spencer at scrum-half, Josh McNally in the second row and Cameron Redpath at inside centre.
For the Chiefs, there are recalls for Welsh duo Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza from their last Premiership fixture against Newcastle Falcons a fortnight ago.
They both come into the pack, while another Six Nations star, Henry Slade, is back at centre. On the bench there are welcome returns for Alec Hepburn and Ollie Devoto – the latter has not played a Premiership match since New Year’s Day 2022.
Exeter Chiefs to win by 1-12 points @ 9/5
Exeter have only lost one of their last five matches in the Premiership to boost their top-four hopes, but they remain poor travellers, losing each of their last five on the road in the competition – a run that stretches back to October.
The Chiefs’ poor away record will give Bath some hope of clinching just a third home victory of the season, but Johann van Graan’s side have won just once since mid-November, which was a 24-16 success over Newcastle on New Year’s Eve.
Bath also have a poor recent record when facing Exeter, as they have only beaten the Chiefs once in any competition since October 2016, while Exeter have won on five of their last six visits to the Rec in the Premiership.
That strong record, coupled with Bath’s poor form, should be enough to get the Chiefs over the line in this one, although it may be a narrow success given their own struggles on the road.
Over 48.5 points in the match @ 5/6
Bath may sit rock bottom of the standings after losing five Premiership matches in the spin, but they have left their mark on many of those games, totalling 26 points or more in losses to Northampton Saints, Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks.
Exeter have also been amongst the points since the turn of the year, as they have totalled 24 points or more in eight of their nine matches across all competitions in 2023.
This certainly suggests that both teams are capable of being amongst the points on Sunday, with over 48.5 points in the match looking a distinct possibility.
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