Aviva Premiership: Exter Chiefs host Harlequins on Sunday; Wasps take on Newcastle Falcons

Sunday’s double bill of Aviva Premiership action sees Exeter Chiefs host Harlequins at Sandy Park, while Newcastle Falcons travel to Adams Park to face Wasps.

Rob Baxter’s Chiefs have been the surprise package of the English top flight thus far, while a convincing display we are yet to see from the out-of-sorts Harlequins.

Wasps may only have one victory to their name at this stage, but all three of their matches to date have been within a six-point margin and they will rightly be tipped as favourites against winless Newcastle.

Chiefs charge

After claiming their first piece of major silverware with the Anglo-Welsh Cup last term, Exeter Chiefs sit fourth in the Premiership standings and will look to extend their impressive record when Harlequins visit Devon.

Exeter’s only loss in their last four Premiership encounters came at home to Leicester in Round 2, while their last eight matches have all been won by the away side on the day.

Meanwhile, despite edging Wasps last weekend Harlequins have looked far from their best, but Conor O’Shea will take heart from the fact they have won three of their last four away games in the competition.

Quins did claim a Premiership double over the Chiefs last season and have a won two, lost two record on previous visits to Sandy Park.

While Harlequins’ England contingent are yet to find form, a number of international prospects are already shining for Exeter with Henry Slade and Sam Hill impressing in midfield, while bulldozing No 8 Thomas Waldrom has made a combined 419 across the first three rounds, more than any other player.

The Chiefs are boosted by the return of England winger Jack Nowell to the starting line-up after a shoulder injury, while Phil Dollman is also back in the run-on side for Exeter.

Both Nowell, who has been out since March, and Dollman appeared off the bench in last week’s 25-22 win at Gloucester, but head coach Baxter is keen to see the duo in action from the outset as the Chiefs look to record a third win in four.

Other changes to the Chiefs squad see Will Chudley promoted to scrum-half in place of Haydn Thomas (concussion), with Australian Pat Phibbs joining the likes of Don Armand, Ian Whitten and Tom James on the bench.

O’Shea has kept faith in the squad which saw off Wasps last time out, naming an unchanged squad for their trip to South West with England quintet Joe Marler, Chris Robshaw, Danny Care, Marland Yarde and Mike Brown all named in the run-on side once more.

Wasps hunt Falcons

Sunday’s only other fixtures sees Newcastle Falcons’ search for a first win of the 2014/15 Aviva Premiership campaign arrive at Adams Park, where Wasps hunt only a second win of the season.

Wasps’ lone victory so far was 20-16 at home to reigning champions Northampton in Round 2, although they have picked up losing bonus points in their other two encounters.

Young’s side have won their last two Adams Park clashes but have not won three in a row at home since early 2013.

Meanwhile, Newcastle slipped to a 19th successive Premiership defeat at home to Northampton on Sunday, and have not won away from home in the competition since they visited Worcester in Round 5 last term.

Wasps won both of their fixtures with the Falcons last season, but Newcastle have triumphed on two of their last four visits to Adams Park.

Young has made seven changes to the Wasps side which bowed in the dying stages at The Stoop last weekend.

Rob Miller, Sailosi Tagicakibau and Alapati Leiua all get starts in the backline while the changes in the pack see Ed Jackson, James Gaskell, Jake Cooper-Woolley and Carlo Festuccia all get the nod.

From last weekend’s side both Chris Bell and Joe Launchbury are rested, with Tom Lindsay, Lorenzo Cittadini, Nathan Hughes, Christian Wade and Andrea Masi all moving to the bench.

There are also changes from Dean Richards, who fields a Newcastle side with five rotations following their reverse to Northampton.

Alex Tait makes his first appearance of the new term on the wing while Argentine Centre Gonzalo Tiesi also making his season debut and summer signing Ruki Tipuna makes his bow in the No 9 jersey.

Elsewhere, Mark Wilson and Sinoti Sinoti both return to the starting line-up after making an impact from the Kingston Park bench last weekend and the versatile Juan Pablo Socino starts at fly-half.