Exeter Chiefs V Cornish Pirates Saturday December 27th Kick Off 3pm

Sandy Park at Exeter is the place to be this Saturday, when a full-blooded 'derby' match contest is surely guaranteed in front of a sell-out festive holiday crowd.

The second-placed Chiefs, having drawn at home to Esher and then lost narrowly away to league leaders Leeds Carnegie, will be desperate to get back on track, whilst the visiting Pirates will travel with an agenda of their own. The Cornish side have yet to record a win at Sandy Park, having lost there in February, 2007 (11-6), and January, 2008 (39-29).

Exeter have made just one adjustment to the side that ran out against Leeds Carnegie, selecting former 'Pirate' Matt Jess on the wing in place of injured Frenchman Nic Sestaret. Gareth Steenson also starts at fly-half, with two more ex Pirates, Chris Cracknell and Wade Kelly, named on the bench.

As for the present day Pirates, there are two changes from the starting XV that lined up against Coventry. Nicky Griffiths is selected at scrum-half ahead of Ed Fairhurst, and prop Peter Cook replaces an injured Alan Paver. On the bench, former Plymouth Albion back-rower Brett Stroud is named, he joins the the club on a one game loan deal from Mounts Bay.

The named line-ups for Saturday are as follows:-

Cornish Pirates:
M. Vakacegu, P. Devlin, M. Ireland, T. Luke, B. Tuohy,
S. Whatling, N. Griffiths, C. Morgan, I. Motusaga, S. Betty
B. Gulliver (capt), H. Senekal, S. Heard, D. Dawidiuk, P. Cook.

Replacements (from):
D. Seal, P. Andrew, M. Burak, B. Stroud, R. McAtee, S. Winn, J. Moore, E. Fairhurst, R. Jones.

Exeter Chiefs:
S. Marsden, M. Jess, P. McKenzie, T. Bedford, J. Drauniniu,
G. Steenson, C. Stuart-Smith, R. Baxter (capt), R. Pugh,
T. Johnson, T. Hayes, L. Stevenson, C. Budgen, S. Blythe, B. Sturgess.

Replacements: S. Nelson, J. Andress, D. Tuohy, C. Cracknell, K. Barrett, D. Gray, W. Kelly.

Additional Parking
For supporters travelling to the game, it should be noted that additional parking has been arranged at 'Westpoint'. Shuttle buses will run from Westpoint to the stadium from 12 noon and again from the stadium back to Westpoint until 7pm.

The shuttle buses are free, but there is a local charity manning the car park who are asking for a £2 donation. Parking for Westpoint should be signposted from Junction 30 of the motorway, people needing to follow the signs to 'Rugby Parking'.