Chiefs side to face Clermont at Sandy Park this evening

Three years ago this weekend Exeter Chiefs were gearing themselves up for a home date with Rotherham Titans in the first year of the new-look RFU Championship.

This evening, Sandy Park will be packed to the rafters as the Devon club prepare to entertain top French outfit Clermont Auvergne for the first-ever Heineken Cup game staged in the Westcountry (6pm).

In the 36 months that have ensued between the two fixtures, it's hard to quantify just how much has been achieved by the Chiefs in what is perceived as a relatively short space of time in sporting terms.

What is clear, however, is that Exeter head coach Rob Baxter has been the mastermind behind one huge on-field development project, the rewards of which are now being reaped as his side tackle the best club sides’ European rugby has to offer.

A week ago the Chiefs travelled to Dublin to face three-time Heineken Cup winners Leinster in their own backyard. Tomorrow, an equally daunting challenge awaits against a star-studded Clermont Auvergne team.

With Clermont seemingly able to select from a 'Who's Who' of international stars, Baxter is well aware the threat to his team gets no easier this weekend.

Baxter said: "They [Clermont] have got strength in different areas to Leinster." "But what you have to remember as well is there were 11 or 12 internationals featuring in the Leinster team last week, so you're not talking about a shoddy Leinster side, and sometimes people forget that. 

"Clermont we know have more internationals in their squad, but they still have to come to Sandy Park, they still have to endure the rigours of travelling over here, to a ground they've not played at before either. We know we are a good team at home, so if we make the game about ourselves, then that's what we will do.

"All week we've talked about being the team that attacks; being the team that has the ball; and seeing what we can get out of the game. Certainly we are going to attack the game, look to score tries and see what comes from it."

Buoyed by their impressive display in Dublin, Baxter has resisted the temptation to tinker too much with his line-up. Indeed, the Exeter coach has made just one change in personnel with Australian international Dean Mumm handed his first European start in place of James Hanks, who trades places with the second-row on the bench. * A match report will appear later today on The Exeter Daily   Also see Whitehead's World:    http://www.theexeterdaily.co.uk/news/blogs/whiteheads-world-time-underdo...

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE CLERMONT AUVERGNE

15 Luke Arscott 14 Ian Whitten 13 Phil Dollman 12 Jason Shoemark 11 Matt Jess 10 Gareth Steenson 9 Haydn Thomas 1 Brett Sturgess 2 Simon Alcott 3 Carl Rimmer 4 Tom Hayes (capt) 5 Dean Mumm 6 Tom Johnson 7 James Scaysbrook 8 Richard Baxter

16 Chris Whitehead 17 Ben Moon 18 Chris Budgen 19 James Hanks 20 Aly Muldowney 21 Will Chudley 22 Ignacio Mieres 23 Sireli Naqelevuki