Earlier in the season, Leicester Tigers boss Michael Cheika explained that his half-time verbal blasts, better known as the hairdryer, come in a variety of settings.

With everything to play for after a bit of an underwhelming first half, I wonder what setting he was on in the changing room just now...

Bath made a strong start to this match with an early try from Arthur Green and they get on the ball early again in the second.

But Saracens get forward as Alex Goode gets involved in the Saracens offence, imagine the noise if he scores today.

Sarries' highest ever appearance maker and undisputed club legend.

The hosts have brought Eroni Mawi on for Rhys Carre at half-time.

Half-time replacement for the hosts and Italian international Ross Vintcent is on for 14-man Exeter, replacing try-scorer Paul Brown-Bampoe, as the second-half gets underway at Sandy Park.

Saracens and Bath are under way again at StoneX as we get going in the second halves.

With Leicester, Sale and Bristol all winning, as it stands they will all be finishing in the top four today and playing in the semi-finals next weekend.

Gloucester and Saracens might also be ahead, but that won't make a difference if the teams above them continue to hold onto their leads.

1 Bath

2 Leicester

3 Sale

4 Bristol

If it stays like this we'll have Bath hosting Bristol next Friday in the first semi-final, with Leicester hosting Sale on Saturday.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport at Sandy Park

Sale have shown their class here at Sandy Park and Exeter have had no answer.

Their play through the hands - especially from Rob du Preez and George Ford - has at times been exceptional.

With Exeter having Ethan Roots in the sin bin for the first 10 minutes of the second period you would Sale have a great chance to be out of sight if they can keep this up.

Gloucester are doing what they need to right now.

If they beat Northampton they are in with a chance of semi-final action, but they will need results elsewhere to go their way if they are to finish in the top four.

As it stands, those results are not going in their favour.

Image source, PA Media

As it stands, Michael Cheika's Leicester Tigers are doing enough to keep them second.

But Newcastle are certainly ensuring it is not the walkover that many may have anticipated against the league's bottom side.

Newcastle have pulled a few points back with the last swing of the boot of the first half.

Brett Connon lands his second penalty of the afternoon.

The visitors are really giving the highly-fancied Tigers some trouble.

Gloucester will see out the final minutes of the half a man down after Afolabi Fasogbon is show a yellow card for for being off his feet when attempting making a tackle as Northampton closed in on the line.

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol are halfway there after a blistering half of rugby which has seen six tries at Ashton Gate.

The Bears have worked the ball beautifully around the field but Quins have had their moments, with Cadan Murley picking up two scores.

The Bears have the bonus point with four tries but it is not beyond Harlequins to get back into this game and cause a serious upset, as they did here in 2021.

Image source, Rex Features

It's going as you might have imagined it would in the first-half at Sandy Park.

Tries from Rekeiti Ma'asi-White and Bevan Rodd have given Sale a comfortable lead at the break as they look to cement third spot and set up a mouth-watering clash against Leicester Tigers next weekend.

Paul Brown-Bampoe's try midway through the first-half had given Exeter a brief lead but they will hope to manage the beginning of the second period without too much damage following Ethan Roots' yellow card a minute before half-time.

Exeter number eight Ethan Roots is penalised for offside, not for the first time in the first-half, and is sent to the bin on his side's own try line.

Sale slightly unfortunate not to be given a penalty try in the same situation and they themselves are then penalised for a wonky looking lineout.

Image source, Getty Images

Saracens recover from an early Bath try to lead with three tries on the board.

With results not going their way elsewhere it could all be for nothing but Mark McCall's side will push until the end and they're doing the job so far.

Simon Devereux
Former Gloucester forward on BBC Radio Gloucestershire

You don't give Christian Wade that kind of space especially with his finishing abilities. He got away from the Northampton defence easily.

Fans want entertainment and they are getting it.