Exeter Chiefs v Hartpury RFC team news: Summer signing Tamati Tua set for his debut

Rob Baxter says Exeter Chiefs can't afford to use the Premiership Rugby Cup as a development competition this season after the club's winless start to the league campaign.

The Exeter director of rugby has made just minor changes to the side that thrashed Cornish Pirates 68-7 at the Mennaye Field last weekend for the visit of fellow Championship side Hartpury this weekend, handing summer signing Tamati Tua his debut having recovered from surgery on a neck issue.

Baxter said: "We're going to go pretty strong through the Prem Cup period. I think we have to. I can't sit here and go, we're a team that's got form, what we're going to do now is have a look at everybody who might have an opportunity and then we'll just go back. If it goes well, it goes badly, a couple of players might come in, but on the whole, we can't give lads three weeks off and we're back into a tough Premiership game away at Bath. We can't do that, that's just ridiculous. We've got to try and get through this and feel like a team that's on the front foot and get some form.

We have to look like a side that has dealt with some issues and has practiced the newer things that we're doing in defence and practiced how those all come together. If we don't do that then this whole period will be a waste of time. So I'm in not going to apologise for it, we're a team in the bottom two of the Premiership.

“I was very pleased with last weekend’s performance but what I actually enjoyed more was the reaction of the players. We’re looking to enjoy this period of training, playing and spending time together through this Premiership Cup competition.

“The expectation this weekend is that Hartpury will pose a little bit of a stiffer test than Cornish Pirates, just based purely on league position. Hartpury are a good side that have had good results recently, so we’re expecting a strong competition from them.

“That said, we should also have an expectation that we can go out there and play some good rugby and win the game.”

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Ben Hammersley, 13 Will Rigg, 12 Tamati Tua, 11 Tommy Wyatt, 10 Will Haydon-Wood, 9 Will Becconsall; 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Ehren Painter, 4 Rusi Tuima, 5 Richard Capstick, 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Jacques Vermeulen (c), 8 Greg Fisilau.

Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Lewis Pearson, 20 Martin Moloney, 21 Stu Townsend, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Paul Brown-Bampoe.

Hartpury RFC: 15. Alex Morgan, 14. Ollie Holiday , 13. Josiah Edwards-Giraud, 12. Robbie Smith, 11. Brad Denty, 10. Harry Bazalgette; 9. Matty Jones; 1. Harry Edwards, 2. Will Crane (c), 3. Ollie Minnis, 4. Cam Cobbett, 5. Jack Davies, 6. Sam Lewis, 7. Harry Short, 8. Jarrard Hayler

Replacements: 16. Ethan Hunt, 17. James Gibbons, 18. Michael Fankah, 19. Carn Richards-Farr, 20. Ellis Hart, 21. Mike Austin, 22. Kyle McGhie, 23. Jack Johnson