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Aviva Premiership: Exeter against Leicester the pick of the bunch of Saturday's fixtures

Jack Arnott of Exeter Chief breaks clear to score a try during the Aviva Premiership match between London Welsh and Exeter
Image: Exeter Chiefs ran riot against London Welsh in Round One

The Aviva Premiership continues on Saturday with three mouth-watering fixtures, Exeter Chiefs’ home clash against Leicester Tigers is the pick of the bunch.

Bath entertain newly-promoted London Welsh at the Rec and Gloucester will be looking to snap their losing run in league action to Sale Sharks.

Bath v London Welsh

Bath will be looking to inflict more misery on newly-promoted London Welsh. Welsh were demolished 52-0 by Exeter last week while Bath claimed a 29-20 win at Sale.

Scrum-half Chris Cook will make his first Premiership start for Bath, while other changes following last weekend's away win against Sale Sharks see opportunities for lock Dave Attwood and flanker Carl Fearns.

Olly Barkley will captain London Welsh against his former club as centre Tom May drops down to the bench and is replaced by Nic Reynolds.

Other changes see starts for No 8 Ollie Stedman and hooker Nathan Morris, while Lachlan McCaffrey moves to blindside flanker and Peter Browne switches to lock.

Exeter v Leicester

Thomas Walrom Exeter Chiefs

Exeter boss Rob Baxter unsurprisingly retains the team that destroyed Welsh last weekend. The Tigers sit third in the standings after opening their season with a 36-17 triumph over Newcastle.

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A number of players make their home Premiership debuts, including former Leicester No 8 Thomas Waldrom, full-back Chrysander Botha, plus locks Mitch Lees and Ryan Caldwell.

Leicester welcome back Mathew Tait, Anthony Allen and Geoff Parling for the trip to Sandy Park, while England hooker Tom Youngs also starts after being on bench duty for last Saturday's Newcastle game, and there is a home debut for Italy international back-row forward Robert Barbieri.

The Tigers beat Exeter home and away last season and will be looking to extend their winning run against the Chiefs.

Gloucester v Sale

Two teams without a point to their name so far meet at Kingsholm Stadium as Gloucester welcome the Sale Sharks.

Gloucester rugby director David Humphreys has opted against making any changes despite his team opening their Premiership campaign with a 53-6 drubbing at Northampton last Friday.

Summer signings James Hook, Greig Laidlaw, Richard Hibbard, John Afoa and Jacob Rowan all make their home league debuts.

Hooker Marc Jones clocks up a century of Premiership appearances for Sale, while Georgian forward Shalva Mamukashvili will make his debut if he features off the bench. Captain Dan Braid (ankle) and wing Mark Cueto (foot) miss out due to what Sale say are short-term injuries.

The Sharks beat Gloucester home and away in the 2013/14 Aviva Premiership campaign.

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