Richie Baxter buoyed by strong team spirit at Chiefs

Baxter has made over 400 appearances for the Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs number eight Richie Baxter says the squad has a strong belief in their own ability as the Championship play-offs get closer.

Exeter beat local rivals Cornish Pirates 30-15 last weekend, with Baxter scoring two tries.

Baxter said: "It's important that we keep building and having belief going into the play-offs that we can win.

"As long as we keep improving and performing well and have a bit of luck with us we'll take what we can get."

Beating the Pirates saw the Chiefs move onto 78 points in the table, where they stay second behind Bristol with just two games remaining before the play-offs begin.

This coming weekend Exeter take a break from Championship action, turning instead to the British & Irish Cup.

Heineken Cup champions Leinster are the visitors to Sandy Park on Saturday, and Baxter told BBC Radio that lining up against such illustrious opposition can only be of benefit as the race for promotion to the Premiership heats up.

"It freshens it up a bit playing in the British & Irish Cup," said Baxter.

"It's always nice to play against different opposition with these guys coming over from Ireland so that'll be something fresh and a new challenge for us."

"It's a different challenge and it certainly breaks up the season a bit," he added.