Hayes: Playing down expectations

The Chiefs, whose appointment with Irish is only their 41st Premiership game, host Northampton in three weeks' time, which could be a clash that ultimately decides fourth place.

Exeter enhanced strong top-four claims by clinching a dramatic injury-time victory away to Gloucester last time out, underlining a stunning rise under head coach Rob Baxter's direction.

"The semi-finals are obviously in the back of our minds, but we can't afford to get that far ahead of ourselves," Chiefs skipper Tommy Hayes said.

"Harlequins and Saracens have been setting the pace all season, and Leicester and Northampton have lots of experience of reaching the play-offs, so it's going to be very hard to overtake them.

"There is a lot of rugby before that Northampton game (on April 22), so if we start thinking about that one then that is where we will fall down.

"We have to be honest. What we have achieved so far this season is beyond most people's expectations, and we know that it is still very tight."

Exeter are predictably unchanged from the side that gained a thrilling 28-27 victory at Kingsholm six days ago. There is a notable landmark for number eight Richie Baxter, who makes his 400th league and cup appearance as a Chiefs player.

Irish make the trip to Devon showing a solitary change from the side beaten by Leicester in a high-scoring encounter last weekend. Adrian Jarvis starts at fly-half in an Exiles side skippered by lock Nick Kennedy.