Marcus Smith, Cadan Murley and Joe Marchant have all been named to start for Harlequins as they host Exeter Chiefs in the 14th edition of their “Big Game” at Twickenham Stadium.
Scrum-half Danny Care becomes the 2nd highest-capped Premiership player, and George Head, James Chisholm, Jack Kenningham and returning skipper Stephen Lewies all coming into a half-changed forward pack.
Visitors Exeter are boosted by the returning trio of Jonny Gray, Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza in the pack, who all played in the Six Nations last week (the former for Scotland and the latter pair for Wales).
Quins had been due to face Bristol in The Big Game in the final weekend of December, but rail strikes forced that game to be moved to their usual home, The Stoop.
They were ultimately beaten 15-12 by Bristol which began a five game losing run, and puts huge importance on this Saturday’s fixture.
Quins boss Tabai Matson said: “Big Game is such an amazing event. For me last year being involved in my first Big Game, it made me realise that it really is spectacular.
“I know it’s moved date, but we’re hoping for nearly 60,000 people at Twickenham, so it’s a really special event. The players are buzzing about the Big Game and that’s changed the energy of the week already.
“Of course, in Exeter, you couldn’t have picked a better team to play in front of so many people. It was only a couple of years ago we played them in a final, so for a number of reasons it’s a really good week for us and there’s some really good energy amongst the group leading into it.”
Just shy of a decade after their Big Game debut, Exeter make their second appearance having been beaten 22-6 in that previous encounter.
Boss Rob Baxter has been focussed on making sure his players get overawed by the occasion as they did back in 2013, with the encounter being crucial as they season closes in on its run-in.
“We’ve got to make sure that if it’s a big game, that’s effective for us, not just for Harlequins,” he said. “Over the years they’ve tended to do well in these games and it’s a while since we last played in one. That day we didn’t perform, so we’ve got to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
“For us, it’s an opportunity for our lads to play at Twickenham in what will be a raucous atmosphere, but the reality of that is it’s a game where we’ve got to collect some points.
“We’re a much different team with a different level of experience and expectation to the last time we play in this fixture, but at the same time we have to lock ourselves down for what will be a hugely important game.”
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