Baxter: Chiefs entertain Wasps

The Chiefs have followed up their impressive debut season in the top flight, when they finished eighth, by making an excellent start this time around.

They became the first side other than Saracens to beat Leicester at Welford Road since September 2008 on the opening day of the season, before comfortably seeing off Newcastle.

They suffered a first defeat at Bath last weekend, although a late penalty try ensured they at least left The Rec with a bonus point.

But Baxter felt his side paid for a lack of faith in themselves in that reverse, and wants them to have confidence in their ability to cause opponents problems with the ball.

"Last week was disappointing, but the lessons we have learnt from Bath is that we perhaps need to focus a little bit more on ourselves and what we want to do in the game," he said, ahead of Sunday's visit of Wasps to Sandy Park.

"We perhaps need to back ourselves that we are a good side - and if we keep the ball in an attacking perspective, we tend to damage sides and maybe that is what we need to ram home for 80 minutes this weekend.

"We're the side that is at home so we have to do all we can to make sure the game is all about us and what we want to do. The challenge for Wasps, I suppose, is to prevent that and they will want to impose themselves on the game.

"However, we have spent a lot of time this week just talking about how we want to attack the game; the qualities we want to bring to it; whilst at the same time carrying out a few tidy ups from last week at Bath."

Baxter has made three changes to his starting XV with Luke Arscott, top try scorer Sireli Naqelevuki and Richard Baxter all back after missing out at The Rec, as Phil Dollman, Bryan Rennie and James Phillips make way.

The return of the trio means Baxter is in a bullish mood ahead of the Sandy Park clash.

He added: "I am looking forward to Sunday and it can't come soon enough because if you feel you're in a good place, then you want to attack games and show what you can do. This week we've got a fitter squad again with the return of a few boys, so we're all raring to get into it again."

Wasps boss Dai Young tasted his first defeat since taking charge last weekend with a 29-18 reverse against Sale, and the former Cardiff Blues boss has also made three changes for the match.

Prop Bob Baker making a first start of the season and lock Richard Birkett and centre Riki Flutey also getting the nod to replace injury victims John Hart and Chris Mayor. Ross Filipo is moved to number eight in a back-row reshuffle, with Ben Broster dropping out.