Andrew Higgins says it will be a "proud moment" for him to make his Exeter Chiefs debut tomorrow night.

The 29-year-old has been named in the Chiefs' 12-man squad for the JP Morgan Asset Management Premiership Sevens at Northampton.

It will be the former Bath player's first match action in more than a year following his nine-month ban for missing a drugs test.

But after signing for the Sandy Park outfit in May, Higgins cannot wait to pull on the club's jersey for the first time at Franklin's Gardens.

They are playing in a round-robin tournament against Northampton, Bath and Gloucester, with the top two going through to the finals next Friday.

"It will be the first time I have pulled on an Exeter shirt and it will be a proud moment for me," Higgins said.

"I'm always a little bit nervous in a good way before I play so I imagine it will be no different tomorrow.

"I put expectation on myself, I don't think too much about other people looking on and what they are saying or thinking.

"I really want to do well and give it my all."

It will be Higgins' first chance to show head coach Rob Baxter what he can do on the pitch and he intends to make the most of that.

However, he said he has also been trying to catch the eye in training ahead of the new Aviva Premiership season.

"I have been trying to impress the coaches every day in training, that's not just something you can do in matches," he said.

"I've been working as hard as I can in pre-season and that's something I intend to do all year.

"This is a good chance for myself to go out there and play, I haven't been involved in a competitive environment for over a year so I want to get that feeling back."

Higgins also wants to help Exeter get their season off to the best possible start with a good showing at Franklin's Gardens.

The tournament is new this summer, with all 12 Premiership clubs playing over three weeks before the top six play-off for the title at Bath next Friday.

Even though it is not the full 15-a-side game, Higgins thinks it will count for something if Exeter do well.

"There are certain qualities in sevens that are different to 15s but there are essentially a lot of things the same as well," he said.

"This is a good chance for us to hopefully get our Premiership season off to a great start in every sense.

"We'll be looking to play well and play hard and see how we go."

Higgins has a bit of sevens experience already and thinks with the likes of Drew Locke and Paul McKenzie in the squad Exeter can make their mark.

"It has become something of a regular occurrence in pre-season, I have played in the Middlesex sevens a few times and I always enjoyed it," said Higgins.

"It can be a tough game fitness-wise but also very enjoyable with so much space.

"It is a great chance for the young lads to show what they can do.

"We've got a good squad and some very good runners with the likes of Drew and Macca in there and I think we can do quite well."

England international Matt Mullan faces three months out of action after dislocating his shoulder in training.

The 23-year-old Worcester prop was recently named in the England Saxons elite player squad for 2010/2011.

Mullan will now undergo surgery and he is unlikely to play again before November.