Stuart Hogg set for Exeter debut and he'll have another British and Irish Lion alongside

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has had the luxury of being able to call upon two British and Irish Lions for the match against Bath this Friday from the side that beat Harlequins last weekend.

Stuart Hogg and Alex Cuthbert both come into the back three, as the Scotland fullback is set to make his debut for his new club.

Two weeks after Scotland’s final match of the Rugby World Cup against Japan, the Scot is relishing starting his career with last season’s Gallagher Premiership runners-up, as are the Chiefs fans on social media.

Given that the RWC is still ongoing, and the Chiefs have Jack Nowell and Henry Slade to return to the backline, this is some team that Baxter has at his disposal.

This is what has been said:

Hogg has big boots to fill at Sandy Park with Santiago Cordero leaving at the end of last season. The Argentinian was one of the Premiership’s most lethal players, but Hogg is of a similar pedigree, if not better, as he has been one of the leading fullbacks in world rugby for years now.

While Exeter made a number of signings over the summer, including Friday’s openside flanker Jacques Vermeulen, Hogg was the marquee signing for the west country outfit, if not for the entire league. A lot will be expected of him to try and improve Exeter’s fortunes, where they have lost to Saracens in the past two finals.

Exeter boast England internationals Ben Moon, Harry Williams and Sam Simmonds in their starting pack, with Alec Hepburn and Matt Kvesic on the bench, which looks like a very strong team at this stage of the season. Bath by no means have a weak side, with a British and Irish Lion of their own, Jamie Roberts, but Hogg looks like he may take centre stage at the Rec this Friday.