Exeter Chiefs vs Bath Predictions: Chiefs to dent Bath’s playoff hopes

With only four rounds remaining, just 12 points separate the top eight teams in the Premiership and sixth-placed Exeter can leapfrog second-placed Bath when the pair meet at Sandy Park. The Chiefs were hammered 64-26 by Toulouse last Sunday but had only reached the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup courtesy of a 21-15 victory over Saturday's visitors to Devon. To add to their frustration, both Finn Russell and Cameron Redpath suffered what the club described as "significant" injuries in the defeat and it is unclear whether they will be back before the end of the season.

Bath have won just twice away from home in the league and against an Exeter side who after demolishing teams through slick attacking play earlier in the season have now found a way to grind opponents down, they may struggle to add to their tally. While Saturday's victors have shown more grunt this season, their absentees, especially Russell, could leave them short.

Match odds

Exeter have been floating at around 10/11 all week. The draw is 20/1 with Bath 1/1 for a rare win at Sandy Park.

Team news

Rob Baxter makes just two changes from the side who lost in Toulouse. Lewis Pearson is recalled in the second row while Jacques Vermeulen replaces Christ Tshiunza at openside flanker.

Baxter's opposite number, Johann van der Graan, has also kept changes to a minimum. Prop Will Stuart is in for Thomas Du Toit while Orlando Bailey and Max Ojomah replace Russell and Redpath.

Exeter -3 @ 6/5

Exeter have been a mixed bag on the road this season but they have been excellent at home, with Northampton the only team to win at Sandy Park in all competitions in 2023-24.

Baxter's side were expected to be a work in progress after a huge summer overhaul of their squad, which included losing no fewer than four British & Irish Lions. However, Baxter's youngsters have come good and the experienced names who stuck around have helped dig them out of some sticky situations.

Those include their victory against Bath a fortnight ago and their last three home triumphs have come by nine points or fewer.

It is a far cry from the start of the Premiership season when they scored a combined 108 points in wins over Saracens and Sale, but this stage of the season is all about grinding out victories, a habit the Chiefs are fast developing at the best possible moment.

Home flanker Ethan Roots is a player to watch after touching down in the most recent meeting while visiting number eight Alfie Barbeary also appeals following his brace in December's reverse fixture, a 41-24 victory for Van Graan's side.

However, Bath has been held back by recording just two away victories this season. They have also failed to win at Sandy Park since 2016, a record which looks unlikely to be broken on Saturday.

Rugby Union Betting tips from Betfred Insights.