Exeter 'need' Premiership Cup matches - Baxter

Exeter boss Rob Baxter says the forthcoming block of Premiership Cup games is a key part of the season for his side.

The Chiefs got just their second league win of the season when they beat an underpowered Saracens side 31-22 last Saturday.

Baxter's side have had success in the cup this season, winning all three of their pool games so far.

They begin the return fixtures with a trip to Championship side Hartpury on Saturday with Baxter's side five points clear of Gloucester in their pool.

"We need games, we need experiences, and for me going to Hartpury is just one of those great rugby experiences because it's different to going somewhere in the Premiership," Baxter told BBC Sport.

"You learn things about yourself and you learn things about the players, learn things about the team and these are all things we really need to embrace.

"We're not a side at the minute that needs to be crawling around trying to look for breaks and rests.

"We need to get out and enjoy training, enjoy playing, that's what that will bring the best out of this group and that's what we're going to keep doing."

Exeter are one of just two sides with three bonus-point wins in the competition this season.

Should they remain as one of the best two sides after the second block of games, they would have home advantage in the knockout stages.

Pool games - in which Exeter will face Hartpury and Championship rivals Cornish Pirates, as well as Premiership side Gloucester - will finish in mid-February, with knockout matches going on until mid-March's final.

"There's a lovely atmosphere about the place," added Baxter.

"The win against Saracens was obviously much needed, but the way the lads have really pulled together, the things they're doing to make sure they're spending a lot of time together, they're really embracing the challenge at the minute.

"But we want to try and keep that going, so it is an important period for us and the reality is we don't want to get through these three weeks and then have weeks and weeks with no games.

"Would we prefer those games to be at home? Of course we would, that's an important part of it, but actually we want to keep playing."