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Bath remain without fly-half Finn Russell because of a calf injury.

Russell has missed Bath's past two games with the issue and, for the second week running, Santiago Carreras replaces the Scotland international in the starting line-up.

Following Bath's win against Leicester last weekend to secure second place in the Prem table, head of rugby Johann van Graan said playmaker Russell was in a "great place" but "not perfect".

However, Russell misses out on the entire matchday squad again, with Argentine international Carreras set to make his fourth start at 10 for Bath as part of an unchanged back line, having more regularly been deployed at full-back since signing last summer.

Hooker Tom Dunn returns to the starting line-up in one of two changes for the defending champions, having missed the past two games following his red card against Newcastle Red Bulls.

Quinn Roux also comes into the second row, with Kepu Tuipulotu and Ted Hill dropping to the bench and scrum-half Benhard van der Linde also coming into the matchday 23.

Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Ojomoh, Arundell; Spencer (c), Carreras; Obano, Dunn, Du Toit; Roux, Ewels, Bayliss, Underhill, Barbeary.

Replacements: Tuipulotu, Van Wyk, Sela, Molony, Hill, Van der Linde, Redpath, Reid.

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For Exeter, the game represents a return to the play-offs for the first time since 2021.

But the fixture at the Rec will be the first-ever away Prem play-off game for the club, as they finished either first or second in the table in each season from 2016 to 2021 while the Chiefs made six consecutive Twickenham finals.

"For me it's a little bit unique," Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told BBC Radio Devon.

"We've been in plenty of semi-finals, but never been away from home, so it's going to be another interesting challenge for us.

"When you look at where the club probably needs to build to, it's probably one of the things we need to try and tick off because we haven't done one yet.

"Those are the things that down the line you want to have achieved as a club, and this gives us the opportunity to do that."

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Bath are seeking to reach a third consecutive Prem final under Johann van Graan, having spent every week of the past three seasons inside the play-off places.

After losing the final 25-21 to Northampton in the 2023-24 campaign, Bath got their hands on the trophy last season with a 23-21 win over Leicester Tigers and are now looking to go back-to-back.

The South African credited the attitude of his players, who he said "never stopped trying to improve".

"That is exactly what I wanted when I came in four years ago," he told BBC Radio Bristol.

"We have a group that continually wants to get better and that is what pleases me the most."

Bath were, however, comfortably beaten 35-12 by the Chiefs just five weeks ago when the two sides met in the league at Sandy Park - Exeter's first win over Bath since December 2022.

Sophie Hurcom
BBC Sport at the Recreation Ground

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Late September, when the 2025-26 season started, feels like a long time ago on this warm and sunny afternoon in Bath.

For one team and their fans, their campaign will come to an end in a couple of hours. For the other, there'll be one more week to relish in and a trip to the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, for a shot at a trophy.

Bath always comes alive on a match day but with one of the universities also holding an open day here today, there's even more of a lively feel around the city and even more crowds of people bustling around the streets and the ground.

Prospective students and their families won't get a better chance to see what Bath is like as a place in its most joyous and celebratory mood if the home team manage to come away with a win later.

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Exeter wing Campbell Ridl has been a breakout star in Exeter's renaissance, running in 16 tries in 22 matches this term.

At a club blessed with some highly talented wingers, the 21-year-old, who had spent the previous season playing for Exeter University, seized his opportunity when the likes of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Paul Brown-Bampoe and Olly Woodburn picked up injuries.

Ridl said that Woodburn, 34, and in his 11th season at Sandy Park, is something of a mentor.

"I speak to him after training and games and he's been talking me through his experience and insights on little tricks and stuff to do. It's just helped me a lot," says Ridl.

As well as advice, Woodburn, along with hooker Jack Yeandle, has handed Ridl a nickname; 'the Ostrich'.

"It's because I'm taller, a bit lanky, pretty quick, long strides," says 6ft 5in Ridl.

"I think that is what they were going for."

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Bath hooker Tom Dunn is preparing to run out at his home ground for a third consecutive Prem semi-final just weeks after becoming the club's record appearance holder in the professional era.

In 16 years as a player with the Black, White, and Blue, Dunn has seen it all, seeing them build into a powerhouse over the past five or six seasons and win their first league trophy in 29 years last season.

"Every little piece of Bath has a story attached to me," he said.

"I am proud to come from Bath and be attached to the city. Every time there is rugby on in the city it's a different feel, a different vibe, and when the club is going well the city comes to life."

Dunn surpassed David Barnes' club appearance record of 266 last month so what chance of reaching 300?

"I'll keep going and keep trying my hardest to put on the shirt," he said.

"When I got to 250, I remember thinking not many players had done that in the professional era. When I passed David [Barnes' record] he sent me a lovely message of congratulations.

"I'm not sure exactly how many games I have, because a lot of the websites that count those started after I started playing."

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Good afternoon everyone.

We're in position to bring you live coverage of the second Prem semi-final between Bath and Exeter and if it's anything like last night's last four fixture, we're all in for a treat.

Northampton eventually overcame Leicester 45-31 in an East Midlands epic to ensure it will be Saints watching on intently this afternoon to discover who they will meet in next Saturday's final.

Kick-off is a little over half-an-hour away.