Baxter Back For Chiefs Semi-Final

Influential Exeter Chiefs number 8 Richie Baxter is fit again, as the club prepares for the biggest game in it's history this weekend.

The former skipper's return is a welcome boost for the promotion play-off semi final against Bedford on Saturday, with the winner just two games away from a place in the Premiership next season.

Exeter secured home advantage for the game via their crushing 53-10 win over Nottingham last time out, which ensured they finished top of their pool.

The Chiefs were roared on by a strong vocal support in that game, and another big crowd's expected at Sandy Park this weekend.

Exeter've enjoyed the better of their last few meetings with The Blues, but the new format for promotion's already proven anything's possible in, what is essentially, cup Rugby. That said, although they slipped up a couple of times on the road on their way to the semis, the Chiefs won all their play-off pool games at Sandy Park.

Should they get through to the final, Exeter will already know who they'll meet, with the other semi-final between Bristol and London Welsh taking place on Friday night at the Memorial Ground.

Click the links below to hear our pre-match interviews with:

Tom Hayes

Rob Baxter

Matt Jess