Exeter Chiefs will have to play something of a waiting game before they take to the field for the final LV= Cup pool stage against Westcountry rivals Bath on Sunday.

The Chiefs are still in with a chance of progressing from Pool Four, but they must await the outcome of Northampton's clash with Wasps at Franklin's Gardens.

If the Saints win and obtain a bonus point as well, then the Chiefs' hopes of progress will be ended. Anything less, and a win or a bonus-point win will see them qualify for the latter stages.

"It's an interesting one, really, we will know where we stand before kick-off with regards to what we need to do to qualify, which is unusual. It could be out of our hands, but we obviously won't know for a while," the Chiefs' head coach Rob Baxter said ahead of the clash.

"There are a lot of potential things that we can get out of the season if we are ambitious and we play well, and I think this weekend is another example.

"If things go our way in a couple of other games and we hit the game running, then we have a great chance to get to the next round of another cup competition, and that's the way we're looking at the season. We want to see what we can get out of the season, and what we can do if we do well.

"We have a relatively fit squad at the moment and players that want to play rugby. Sometimes it's the hardest thing to do – to give them more game-time – but we have managed to do it pretty well. Everyone is pretty fit and up and running and we are in good form. If we can maintain it, then who knows how the season will go for us."

So far this year, Baxter has used the LV= Cup to give several members of his squad who have not been Premiership regulars some much-needed game time. He has also used it as an chance to blood several of the club's promising crop of youngsters and he is delighted with how they have fared.

"I think that's what is fantastic about the LV and some of the rounds in the Amlin. You get to have a good look at these guys," he said. "It is sometimes difficult to do, but you become more trusting of their abilities and that gets easier when they play well for us and in the A league.

"Dave Ewers [who is in a 20-strong group who will be battle it out for the new LV breakthrough player award] has done that extremely well, he has taken the correct route in a lot of ways.

"He has worked hard in our Academy, he has had some exceptional A league performances and had a good season at the Pirates, where he has really bought into what they are doing and getting plenty of game-time at a high standard, and he is coming on leaps and bounds.

"He had a big 80 minutes for us and he has done it in some of the Amlin rounds, and hopefully he can do it again this weekend. It just shows the way he is developing.

"It's also great for Sam Hill to get a start and put in a big performance, we have known he has real quality, it was good to see Jack [Arnott] again and Sam Jones was up there, so Academy wise, things are looking good. Luke Cowan-Dickie had another good set of minutes in a tough position for a young man at loose head prop and he looks good as well. Maybe in a year or two's time, when the players have their experience, we will reap the benefit."

Bath, top of Pool One, will no doubt provide formidable opponents to the Chiefs.

"They have said they want to go through and it is a good chance for them to get European qualification and they have also said they have a lot of injuries, which means they haven't got a lot to select from," said Baxter.

"It will be tough for us, but I want it to be tough. We will go in with a mix-and-match side and will give a lot of guys an opportunity to play in what is a tough fixture because that is how they get better.

"It is not the end of the world if we don't qualify from the LV, but it is very important that we get better and, if some of the players that play this weekend improve, or lay down a marker for inclusion in the Premiership side, then we are getting better and that's the most important thing."