Returning from a three-match ban, Attwood offers a wealth of experience as Bath head south to take on former Aviva Premiership Champions Exeter Chiefs' at Sandy Park.

Also returning to the pitch is Piers Francis. After injuring his leg during Bath's Premiership clash against Gloucester, Francis has returned to fitness as planned and will take up his position as inside centre, and also take on the vice-captaincy role.

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Bath's front row is made up of BUCS Super League and Team Bath regular Archie Stanley, alongside Tom Doughty at hooker and Kieran Verden at tighthead.

Attwood will lock in in the second row alongside Ewan Richards, who has earned numerous Gallagher Premiership caps having put his hand up for selection with some strong performances last season.

Bath's back row offers up some promising talent in the form of JJ Tonks and Ethan Staddon and Wesley White completing the forwards at Number 8. White is becoming a regular face for Bath and featured in their historic clash against Barbarians last weekend, scoring a try of his own.

Having put his hand up for selection through some gritty Premiership Cup performances, Tom Carr-Smith will get the put in at the scrum and don the number nine jersey at scrum-half.

Carr-Smith will be paired with fellow youngster and recent Premiership debutant, George Worboys, who pulled the strings at fly-half during Bath's first win of the season against Northampton Saints last month.

Francis will work with Max Wright in the midfield, who delivered a strong performance during Bears' visit to The Rec in Bath's last Premiership Cup outing, which earned him the Pol Roger Performance of the Match.

Bath's backline features promising, homegrown youngster Sam Harris at full back, who'll have the speed of Darren Atkins and the boot of Gabe Goss on his wings.

After winning the pack two scrums late on to help Bath to victory against champions Leicester Tigers, Arthur Cordwell will get some game time off the bench, alongside England U20 John Stewart and another BUCS Super League star Archie Griffin.

This will be Griffin's first run out in Blue, Black and White and will be hoping to offer the same tenacity he shows in his Team Bath performances on his Bath debut.

Michael Etete and Will Spencer are named as replacement forwards, with Spencer returning from an ankle injury sustained in Bath's first home game against Sale Sharks. Nahum Merigan is another to have put his hand up for Gallagher Premiership selection during his Cup performances and will complete Charteris's six-man forwards selection.

Promising scrum-half Murdoch Lock will take his seat on the bench, alongside Jordan Venter who completes Bath's bench and will also get his first cap of the 2022/23 season.

This is Bath's final Premiership Rugby Cup display of the season and are looking to go out on a high against a strong Exeter pack.

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bath rugby team to play exeter chiefs

Bath Rugby: 15 Sam Harris, 14 Gabe Goss, 13 Max Wright, 12 Piers Francis (vc), 11 Darren Atkins, 10 George Worboys, 9 Tom Carr-Smith; 1 Archie Stanley, 2 Tom Doughty, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Dave Attwood (c), 5 Ewan Richards, 6 JJ Tonks, 7 Ethan Staddon, 8 Wesley White.

Impact players: 16 John Stewart, 17 Arthur Cordwell, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Michael Etete, 20 Will Spencer, 21 Murdoch Lock, 22 Jordan Venter, 23 Nahum Merigan.

The Opposition

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Facundo Cordero, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Zack Wimbush, 12 Tom Wyatt, 11 Arthur Relton, 10 Iwan Jenkins, 9 Tom Cairns; 1 James Kenny, 2 Jack Innard (c), 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Alfie Bell, 5 Joe Bailey, 6 Rus Tuima, 7 Aidon Davis, 8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements: 16 Max Norey, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Matt Johnson, 19 Cory Teague, 20 Santiago Grondona, 21 Orson James, 22 Shea Cornish, 23 Frankie Nowell

Blend of youth and experience for Premiership Cup clash with Exeter Chiefs

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