The chasing pack of Bristol, Leicester, Exeter and Saracens will all fancy they can at the very least make the top four, if not push for a home semi-final.
The Bears return to league action against the Tigers having won their past five Prem matches, and Pat Lam’s side have been boosted by the return from injury of scrum-half Harry Randall and winger Gabriel Ibitoye.
Upcoming fixtures also look kind to Bristol – after their trip to Leicester this weekend they take on strugglers Harlequins, Gloucester and Newcastle in successive games.
Bears will hope to maintain the spot in the play-offs they got last season, but can they go one step further and make a first-ever Prem final?
Exeter have in many ways been the surprise package of the season after a disastrous 2024-25 campaign saw them finish second-from-bottom.
Twelve months ago, Exeter 2.0 had crashed, but the Chiefs have more than switched the Sandy Park computer off and on again.
Exeter 2.5 (if you like) has seen a new coaching staff under long-serving boss Rob Baxter get the best out of a squad that has had some key additions.
If they can get star centre Len Ikitau fit again from his shoulder injury he will form a formidable midfield combination with England’s Henry Slade.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s fitness will also be key after he missed the Six Nations with a hamstring issue, but with impressive youngsters Paul Brown-Bampoe and Campbell Ridl on the wings – and the experienced Olly Woodburn – they still carry a try-scoring threat.
Chiefs face Sale and Newcastle in their first two games back before hosting leaders Northampton and then going to struggling Gloucester – three wins and some bonus points will be seen as a minimum from those matches and could propel them towards a play-off return after five years.
