ROB Baxter believes Exeter Chiefs' trip to Newcastle this weekend will come too soon for the majority of this players returning from injury.

And the head coach's selection issues have not been helped by the postponement of Monday's second-team game against Wasps.

Forwards Peter Short and Chris Whitehead were due to return in that A League match to press their claims for a place against the Falcons.

While they will still have their fingers crossed that they make the trip to the North East, Baxter believes Sireli Naqelevuki, James Hanks and Ben White need more time to recover before they can play again.

But Baxter has set his sights on having a fully fit squad to select from for the final two LV= Cup games, starting with the trip to Wasps at the end of the month.

Summer signing Short broke a leg against Wasps in September, Whitehead has not played since injuring a leg in October, Naqelevuki broke an arm in November and White damaged an ankle last month.

Baxter has also been denied the services of Chad Slade and Ben Moon through injury in recent weeks.

"Peter Short has been out for a while and it would have been very important for him to get a game under his belt so we could have a look at him," said Baxter after Wasps pulled out of Monday's fixture.

"I always like players to do a little bit to get back and it would have been important for Peter to get back up and running again, get a game of rugby and help his match fitness.

"We've got a few other guys in the same position, we're getting quite a fit squad at the moment.

"Sireli was back in training on Monday and it was great to see him out there again but looking at him, the way he was carrying the ball and the way he was hitting the ground, I think he needs two full weeks of training to get his confidence back.

"After having an arm injury, he needs to feel happy putting his hand out when he goes to ground and carrying the ball in two hands.

"It's probably a week too early for James. He had a tough running session at the end of last week but we want to make sure he comes through the rugby-side of training this week."

With the majority of his players coming back to fitness – White could be ready to play again in a fortnight – Baxter thinks it will give the squad a lift.

Halfway through the season and with the pitches becoming heavy, he thinks the enthusiasm of the returning players will rub off on their colleagues.

"The injury situation is improving and if we get through the next couple of games without any new injuries we could have a full-strength squad to pick from by the LV= games," he said.

"That would be great for us because this post-Christmas period can be tough as you come into work in the dark, leave in the dark and train in wet and miserable conditions.

"To have guys coming back into the squad who are desperate to play can give everyone a lift, and hopefully we'll get that in the next couple of weeks.

"That's why it's been great to have Peter Short and Sireli back in training. I don't think anyone loves playing or training more than Sireli, he would go out and train or play touch 12 hours a day if we let him!"

One of the positives to come out of Saturday's defeat was the impact flanker Tom Johnson made off the bench as he looked to be returning to the form of last season.

No. 8 James Phillips has also been impressing recently, which Baxter has put down to his improved fitness.

"Tom didn't have much time off in the summer and early in the season he was a bit jaded but to me he looked fresh when he came on on Saturday," he said.

"James Phillips has had a couple of decent performances and is benefiting from a lot of extra conditioning work. He's lost about five or six kilos and makes more impact in games."