EXETER head coach Rob Baxter has challenged his in-form Chiefs to build on last weekend's impressive win at Bristol by now overcoming visiting London Welsh tomorrow (3pm).

Sunday's 35-26 success not only enabled Baxter's side to claim the scalp of a team who last season were plying their trade in the Guinness Premiership, but it also elevated the Devon club to the summit of the Championship.

Five wins from five starts is obviously the ideal start, but Baxter knows this latest encounter promises to be just as tough as the Bristol encounter, possibly even tougher.

"At this minute of time we are happy with where we stand," said Baxter yesterday. "We think our conditioning looks good, the squad balance looks good and – at the moment – Sandy Park is a place which is enjoying its rugby.

"That said, we are not going to get carried away with things. The guys here are fully aware of what this season entails – and they know we have a plan and a structure which we will need to stick to.

"Winning five from five is obviously the ideal start and something we want to keep going. And I'd say at the moment we seem to be hitting all our targets, but the key is we need to be hitting those same targets in the last five or six weeks of the season as well."

Buoyed by a virtually fully-fit squad to choose from, Baxter has a plethora of options to choose from ahead of the impending arrival of the capital-based Exiles.

"Keeping this group fresh and injury free is crucial," said the Exeter coach, who makes three changes for tomorrow's clash. "When you stay fit, when you stay fresh, the league points come, that is just the reality of sport. It's all one package.

"If I'm being honest, we are probably ahead of schedule of where we intended to be points-wise. Touch wood, we've also been very lucky with injuries. However, things can change very quickly in rugby and you only have to lose to someone in this league at the wrong time and that can be your season over.

"As I've said many times already this season, we're not getting carried away with things and we are not taking any team in this league lightly. Some people may look at Saturday's game and say it's the game between the two form teams – and we'd probably admit that – but they wouldn't be winning the games they are winning if they we're not playing well."

To aid Exeter's cause, Baxter has drafted in Chris Bentley to replace James Hanks in the second-row, while behind Bryan Rennie and Mark Foster are given the nod over Matt Cornwell and Paul McKenzie. Other than those changes, the Chiefs line up just as they did last Sunday at the Memorial Stadium

Buoyed by that win, Baxter is now hoping his side can carry that performance into a tussle against a Welsh side, who have bounced back from defeats to Bristol and Nottingham to record three successive victories over Birmingham-Solihull, Rotherham and Bedford.

"It goes without saying, when we play at home we want to make Sandy Park a fortress," added Baxter. "Not just for the early part of the season, but if you start talking about the play-offs, you want to make sure half your play-off games are being played on a ground where other teams don't come and win. For us, it's very important to establish a solid home base throughout the season."

And having already beaten Doncaster and Plymouth Albion on home soil this term, the Chiefs will be looking to add the visiting Welshmen to that list. Baxter knows, however, that will be no formality.

"They are playing a lot of good rugby," he warned. "They were unfortunate against Bristol on the opening day because they played really well, yet didn't finish off some of their opportunities.

"Having looked at them again this week, they are a lively side with some powerful ball carriers both in the back-row and the midfield. They will look to play at every opportunity, so that will challenge our defence.

"That said, challenges like this are where we have been good and the guys who play on Saturday will have to step up for that challenge. All week we have spoken about being top of the league – some teams don't like being there and don't like having other teams fighting for their spot.

"I think we have made a decision as a group that we want to stay top and we are going to relish every battle we have. I think this weekend is the first real marker for that, so we'll have to see if we can cope with that pressure."

Exeter Chiefs: E Lewis; M Jess, P Dollman, B Rennie, M Foster, G Steenson, C Stuart-Smith; B Sturgess, N Clark, H Tui; T Hayes (capt), C Bentley; C Slade, J Scaysbrook, R Baxter. Replacements: S Alcott, R Murphy, J Hanks, T Johnson, H Thomas, D Gray, M Cornwell.