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Exeter Chiefs prop Brett Sturgess says the side are excited at the prospect of their first pre-season game at Connacht on Saturday.

Sturgess, 29, spent a season at Connacht before joining the Chiefs.

"Connacht have qualified for the Heineken Cup this season and I know that is something they have been striving for," he said.

"It should be a real good game to challenge ourselves - we're really looking forward to it," he added.

And Sturgess says it will be the first chance for the Exeter Chiefs squad to impress head coach Rob Baxter and his staff.

"There is lots of competition, throughout the squad - we have 30, 40 players who want to get a game over these next few weeks and who want to be involved at Leicester.

"It is going to be exciting to watch the players working as a team, but also fighting for a position in the starting line-up."

He added: "We want to be tested because our first game in the Premiership is Leicester away, so if we can use these fixtures against good sides like Connacht it will prepare us well for that first game."