BATH have made eight changes to the side that started against Bristol in the European Rugby Challenge Cup as they prepare to take on Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park in the Aviva Premiership on Sunday (kick-off 3pm).

Five of the changes come in the pack as Ross Batty and Henry Thomas return to the front row, packing down alongside Nick Auterac.

Dave Attwood takes his place alongside Luke Charteris in the engine room whilst Tom Ellis and Charlie Ewels come in on the openside flank and at number eight respectively, with Matt Garvey continuing on the blindside.

Kahn Fotuali’i and George Ford re-establish their half-back partnership and Semesa Rokoduguni takes his place on the right wing.

Aled Brew is named on the left wing, with Matt Banahan and Jonathan Joseph teaming up in the midfield once more while Tom Homer remains at fullback.

Director of rugby Todd Blackadder, is looking forward to his side tackling another West Country derby.

He said: “I’ve heard what great games we’ve had with Exeter in the past few seasons and I’m sure Sunday’s game will be another.

“The game is going to be a big test for us, in terms of measuring where we are as a team. 

"It will show us what we’re doing right, as well as wrong, and mean we can take that forward into a pretty challenging run of Aviva Premiership games that we have coming up after the Anglo Welsh Cup.

“The injury list is getting shorter, which means we have had a decent number of bodies out training for the first real time this season, and that’s meant we’ve had some really good sessions as we’ve prepared for this game – we’re just looking forward to getting out there and playing now.”

Bath team to face Exeter Chiefs: 15. Tom Homer, 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 12. Matt Banahan, 11. Aled Brew, 10. George Ford (co-captain), 9. Kahn Fotuali’i, 1. Nick Auterac, 2. Ross Batty, 3. Henry Thomas, 4. Luke Charteris, 5. Dave Attwood, 6. Matt Garvey (co-captain), 7. Tom Ellis, 8. Charlie Ewels.

Replacements: 16. Tom Dunn, 17. Max Lahiff, 18. Kane Palma-Newport, 19. Elliott Stooke, 20. Guy Mercer, 21. Will Homer, 22. Rhys Priestland, 23. Jeff Williams.