Exeter Chiefs vs Harlequins Prediction: Quins can heap more misery on winless Chiefs

Sunday’s sole Premiership fixture sees two sides in the bottom half of the table go head-to-head as Exeter Chiefs host Harlequins at Sandy Park (kick-off, 15:00 BST).

The Chiefs have lost each of their opening five matches of the season and were beaten 24-18 by the Newcastle Falcons - a side who lost every single league fixture in the previous campaign - last time out.

Quins also tasted defeat in their most recent fixture, losing 26-24 at home to Bath thanks to a late try from Francois van Wyk, meaning they have won just two of their opening five Premiership matches this term. Below you can find my Exeter Chiefs vs Harlequins predictions. 

Exeter Chiefs vs Harlequins Odds

Home advantage gives Exeter the edge in the match result market at 1/2, whereas Harlequins are 13/8 to take the points back to Twickenham Stoop.

The rare draw provides odds of 20/1, while the hosts to be ahead at half-time is available at 4/6.

Team news

Rob Baxter has made eight changes to the starting XV that suffered the shock loss to the Falcons last time out with the alterations split evenly between the pack and the backs.

The scrum sees Dan Frost come in at hooker in place of club captain Jack Yeandle, who is named on the bench alongside fellow dropped forwards Marcus Street, Rusi Tuima and Ethan Roots.

Prop Ehren Painter will start, while the selections of back row Jacques Vermeulen and number eight Greg Fisilau mean Ross Vintcent and Richard Capstick switch positions.

Will Becconsall, Will Haydon-Wood, Will Rigg and Henry Slade are the new faces among the backs, with Sam Maunder, Harvey Skinner, Joe Hawkins and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso all making way.

Quins boss Billy Millard names six changes to the side that started against Bath, four of which are made in the scrum.

Jordan Els, Irne Herbst, Stephen Lewies and James Chisholm start from the off in place of Fin Baxter, Joe Launchbury, Dino Lamb-Cona and Alex Dombrandt.

Marcus Smith and Luke Northmore are the two men making away among the backs, as Jarrod Evans starts at fly-half and Lennox Anyanwu comes into the centre.

Harlequins to win by 1-12 points inclusive @ 11/4 

After losing in front of their own fans last time out, Quins will feel an urgent need to bounce back with victory and should feel confident of doing so against the winless Chiefs.

Despite lying in seventh in the table, only Leicester Tigers (78) have conceded fewer points than the Quins (95) in the league this season.

The Chiefs have lost both of their two home matches this season by fine margins (40-35 v Bristol, 17-14 v Leicester), so it is unlikely that the hosts will be blown away on Sunday.

With the two sides possessing two of the three lowest tallies in terms of points scored this season, a close encounter should be expected.

However, the form of the visitors should see them edge this contest.