Rob Baxter has told his Exeter players to go out and grab the opportunity of a lifetime and deliver the dream of the Chiefs playing in the Guinness Premiership.

After months of fierce action within the inaugural Championship season, it has come down to the two sides many pundits predicted would be slugging it out at the death for a place at English rugby's top table.

Tonight, Exeter's Sandy Park will be packed to the rafters as a record-breaking 10,000 spectators prepare to watch the Chiefs vie for promotion against Bristol in the first leg of the Championship final.

For head coach Baxter, there has never been a bigger fixture involving the Devon club. Last night, having put to bed his side's final preparations, the Exeter stalwart said: "We have been building for this moment for probably three or four seasons. This is the furthest we have got with regards to closeness of being in the Premiership, so now it's up to us to grab it with two hands and make that final step.

"As a team and as a club, we have all worked very hard to get into this final. Nothing has been given to us all season and we have earned every bit of this chance. Now we are here, I can tell you we are very determined to follow it through and finish the job."

Overcoming the threat of Bristol, however, will be no formality. The former Premiership club finished the first part of the season as top dogs and they are the only side to have won at Sandy Park in the past 20 months.

Much has moved on since Bristol won 25-16 against the Chiefs back in December and although Baxter does not expect any real surprises to be brought out by either side, he does expect their rivals from just up the M5 to pose a considerable test.

"We have had a good look at them," added Baxter. "These days everybody has some much video of everyone else, you kind of know a lot of what is going to come at you. If I'm honest, I don't either side will try and do something different. I think it will be more about who does well and who does it the best.

"Like us, they will concentrate on what they do well and how they want to play the game and we will do likewise with how we want the game to be played.

"Form is obviously good to have going into a game like this, but at the same time I think it's more about the mindset and your approach to the game and then doing it on the day.

"What is crucial for us is getting the fundamentals of our game right and doing them well. That's what gives us a foothold in the game and we expand from that quickly."

With the second leg at the Memorial Stadium to follow a week today, Baxter insists he has not discussed that fixture or any potential points objective with his team.

"We've not really talked about scores or how many points we need," added Baxter. "All we have concentrated on is performance and about wanting to win two games, the first of which is tomorrow."

Having advanced into the final following victory over Bedford in the semi-finals, Baxter has made just one change to his starting XV. It comes at No.8 where younger brother Richard is given the nod over Tom Johnson. Otherwise, the team is unchanged with Hoani Tui starting at tighthead in place of Chris Budgen.

"Selection was tough, as it always is, but we've decided to go with Richie," added Baxter. "At the same time, though, we know what both Budge and TJ can bring to the side. I'm sure both would have loved to have started the game, but it is about what we do as a team, a squad and a club which is the single most important thing. We are confident with the decisions we have made and we are confident we can get a result tomorrow."

Gates at Sandy Park will open from 5pm today.

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