Drewett feels his side is ready to make the jump to rugby's top flight

Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Pete Drewett says his club is ready to play in the Premiership.

While many National League One sides are looking at whether or not they will have to go professional in 2009, Drewett says his side can go up.

"I think we're very capable of being an asset to professional rugby in this country," he told BBC Radio Devon.

"It's down to us to keep playing hard and try and win a place there on merit," he added.

This season is the second that the Chiefs have been fully professional and they are one of the sides best placed in the current National League One to cope with proposed changes to the structure of the English league.

The Rugby Football Union Council will discuss on Friday whether or not to implement the changes, which are unpopular with many clubs in the league.

The plans include making the current National League One a fully professional league from next season and cutting the number of teams from 16 to 12.

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