Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter realistic over Premiership chances for new-look side

Rob Baxter is beginning his 15th season in charge of Exeter Chiefs

Exeter boss Rob Baxter says he is realistic about expectations for his new-look side for the start of the new Premiership season.

Chiefs host champions Saracens in their first league game since many of their star names left in the summer and were replaced by a host of younger players.

"We're not going to set ourselves too many goals," Baxter told BBC Devon.

"We're probably going to start out by going 'we want to be playing in a way we feel can win games of rugby'."

Exeter have had a positive start to the season after ensuring qualification from their Premiership Rugby Cup pool, although they were beaten 34-14 at Bath in their final game last week.

The likes of Sam Simmonds, Jack Nowell, Dave Ewers, Stuart Hogg, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jack Maunder have all left the club, having helped Exeter win domestic and European titles.

Exeter's incoming transfers have been more modest - Wales centre Joe Hawkins' move from Ospreys was the highest-profile signing as Baxter hopes to improve a young and hungry squad at Sandy Park.

"For me it feels like when we were first in the Premiership, when the only thing that was important was that the 15 guys who were on the field at any time are just putting themselves forward, going for it, expressing themselves, getting the ball in their hands, having as much of the game as they can - because that's how they'll improve quickly," said Baxter, who guided Exeter to promotion to the top flight in 2010.

"If you include the bench we might have six or seven players who've not played a Premiership game for Exeter before.

"On top of that we've probably got another handful whose only game was playing against London Irish at the end of last season, and then we've got a handful more who may have played in two or three.

"So we've got to give them time on the field and we've got to encourage them to step forward and take hold of the game.

"Some of that will be mistakes and some of that will be good stuff, but what we've got to do is keep encouraging them to step forward and keep taking part in the game."