Bath Rugby welcome Exeter Chiefs to the Recreation Ground on Saturday for the re-arranged Round 11 Aviva Premiership Rugby fixture, kick-off 2.30pm.

Director of Rugby, Sir Ian McGeechan, knows that performing more accurately in certain areas holds the key to Bath getting back to winning ways in the first Premiership South West derby played between the two sides at the Recreation Ground.

“The last couple of games we have put our hands up and admitted we have been far too careless with possession. You can have all the tactics and plans in the world, but if you are not able to keep hold of the ball, then they are useless. We showed we can penetrate very well, as we did against Leicester, we just need to make sure we don’t lose the ball in the contact and keep it safe.

“Exeter are a well-coached side, know what they are doing and are very efficient at it. If we want to really threaten them, we need to be just as efficient. We showed down in Exeter our ability to counter their physicality at the contact areas, and that is something we must do. Maintaining possession is key, because if you don’t hold on to the ball, you don’t penetrate, and if you are not good at breakdowns you won’t keep possession. We have been working hard on these areas though, and are keen to right the wrongs of the last few weeks, and get ourselves back on course for reaching the play-offs.”

Bath Rugby team to face Exeter Chiefs

15. Sam Vesty

14. Matt Banahan

13. Matt Carraro

12. Shontayne Hape

11. Nick Abendanon

10. Butch James

9. Michael Claassens

1. David Flatman

2. Lee Mears

3. David Wilson

4. Peter Short

5. Danny Grewcock

6. Stuart Hooper

7. Guy Mercer

8. Luke Watson ( c )

Replacements

16. Pieter Dixon

17. Nathan Catt

18. Duncan Bell

19. Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe

20. Josh Ovens

21. Mark McMillan

22. Nick Scott

23. Jacques Boussuge