HARLEQUINS VS. EXETER CHIEFS- AVIVA RUGBY-PREVIEW, LINEUPS AND PREDICTIONS
Harlequins play host to Southern foe Exeter this weekend, in what from the outset, is looking like a somewhat one-sided affair according if the bookies are to be believed.
Harlequins hand a debut Premiership start to the exciting prop Joe Marler, as the Londoners continue their pursuit of a first win this season.
Ollie Kohn returns to the second row, with the ever reliable Nick Easter taking up his rightful place in the number eight jersey
Exeter make their first change, be it a forced one, to their starting line-up, with winger Matt Jess being called up to replace injured Phil Dollman.
Team Lineups:
Harlequins: Brown; Camacho, Smith, Turner-Hall, Lowe; Evans, Care; Marler, Cairns, Johnston, Kohn, Vallejos, Robshaw (capt), Skinner, Easter.
Exeter: Arscott; Jess, Sestaret, Rennie, Foster; Steenson, Thomas; Sturgess, Clark, Tui, Hayes (capt), Hanks, Johnson, Scaysbrook, Phillips.
This one seems a difficult one to call regardless of the bookies one-sided approach towards Quins.
While Harlequins have yet to kick off their Premiership challenge with a win, they have managed to claim vital bonus points in each of their games so far.
This point towards a team that, while coming close, lacks the overall ability to close off the win.
Exeter on the other hand has suffered a full-house of losses on the road, and as such are expected to struggle today.
In the backline, Quins fans will welcome the return of Danny Care who was a late withdrawal from the Sale game. Gonzalo Camacho, who impressed after coming on for the injured Tom Williams last Friday, starts on the wing.
Ladbrokes are placing Harlequins as massive favourites today at 1.14, and the Exeter Chiefs at 5.0
There is some real money to be made on the try scorer selection odds at Paddypower with the young and ever-impressive English hopeful George Lowe a shoe-in at 2.4.
One will also feel that with Nick Easter returning to the fold that he would be keen to get involved in some forward dominance by crossing over. Easter is set at 3.25
Ex-Argentinean Sevens specialist Gonzalo Camacho is also a good viewing to score at 2.5
For Exeter, many are expecting big things from an, until now, sedate backline.
Exeter winger Mark Foster is expected to cause some chaos in the Harlequin defence today and expected to cross over at a rather liberal 3.75- great value for money
While both teams have not really got going this season, many are feeling that Harlequins harbour too many quality players to let today's game slip.
With the Chiefs atrocious away record, coupled with Harlequins dominant home record, this one should sway the way of the Londoners
Betting Tip: George Lowe to score for Harlequins at 2.4