Love semi-final team news: Bath v Exeter – injured Russell missing

For Exeter the game represents their first return to the play-offs since 2021.

But the match at the Rec will be the first away love play-off game for the club, as they finished first or second in the table in each season from 2016 to 2021 when Chiefs reached six consecutive Twickenham finals.

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told BBC Radio Devon: “For me it’s a bit unique.

“We’ve been in a lot of semi-finals, but never away from home, so it’s going to be another interesting challenge for us.

“When you look at where the club probably needs to build, it’s probably one thing for us to try and tick off because we haven’t done one yet.

“These are things you want to achieve as a club and this gives us the opportunity to do that.”

the bath: of Glanville; Cocanasiga, Lawrence, Ozomoh, Arundel; Spencer (C), Racing; Obano, Dunn, Du Roof; Roux, Ewels, Bayliss, Underhill, Barbeary.

replacement: Tuipulotu, Van Wyk, Sela, Molony, Hill, Van der Linde, Redpath, Reid.

Exeter: groundnut; Brown-Bumpo, Slade, Ikitau, Riddle; Skinner, Vernie; Seao, Norre, Joseph-Scott, Jenkins (capt), Zambonin, Hupp, Scheunja, Fisilau.

Replacement: Dweba, Burger, Tchumbadze, Tuima, Vincent, Cairns, Wimbush, Hammersley.

Referee: Christopher Ridley