Exeter Chiefs host Saracens at Sandy Park on Saturday in Round 18 of the 2025/26 Gallagher PREM
Henry Slade of Exeter Chiefs talks to Leicester Tigers’ James O’Connor (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
Bruised and battered but largely healthy, that was Rob Baxter’s description of his Exeter Chiefs squad heading into Saturday’s make-or-break game with Saracens as the race for the final spot in the Gallagher PREM playoffs comes down to the last day of the season.
Chiefs head into the match sitting in fourth, with in-form Saracens three points behind in fifth following their 26-12 win against Harlequins.
Chiefs’ director of rugby Baxter confirmed there were no significant casualties from Sunday’s statement 35-26 away win at Leicester Tigers, but with a short turnaround to this weekend’s game, there has been a distinct lack of training for some players during the week.
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Baxter said: “We’ve got plenty of bumps and bruises. It was a tough game up at Welford Road. So, have we got the usual situation, where we are monitoring a few guys, which we normally have to do at this stage of the season, right until quite late in the week. But we’ve come through okay.
“We’ve got guys who start the first two days of training, and they don’t do too much. We get through the walk-throughs and the prep and the recovery protocols, and then you start to try moving things at speed today and tomorrow, and that’ll finalise our selections.”
Key playmaker and leader Henry Slade was one of those players who was in the wars against Leicester, but Baxter confirmed there was no lasting damage from the blows he received as he proudly showed off his swollen ear post-match having been involved in some giant collisions.
He said, “If the only issue you had week by week was cauliflower ears, then I would be the happiest coach in the world. Cauliflower ears don’t stop you from playing or training; they just look a bit odd for a day or two.
“Sladey is fine, he has been in full training. He has a bit of a bruised ear, but the swelling has gone down, and he is ready to fly and get on with things.”
While Chiefs may be nursing some hurting bodies, they come into Round 18 of the regular season in relatively good health and must make the most of that good fortune, as Bristol Bears, Gloucester and Harlequins will attest that a run of bad injuries can completely derail a campaign.
Instead, Exeter find themselves in form and with key players like number eight Greg Fisilau, full-back Olly Woodburn and flanker Ethan Roots back from spells out.
In reality, Baxter is only really missing hooker Jack Yeandle, backrower Ross Vintcent and full-back Tommy Wyatt from his strongest available squad this weekend, with all three men out for the rest of the season.
That provides his side with the opportunity to return to the play-offs for the first time since 2021, with Northampton, Bath Rugby and Leicester having already secured their spots.
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