EXETER Chiefs will welcome back South African international Joseph Dweba for his first appearance of the season as one of five changes to the starting line-up for Friday night’s PREM Rugby Cup trip to Sale Sharks (7.45pm).

The 31-year-old hooker returns having not featured since Exeter’s Gallagher Premiership final defeat to Northampton Saints back in June.

Dweba, who has won six caps for the Springboks, has found first team opportunities limited this season with Jack Yeandle, Max Norey, Louie Gulley and Julian Heaven all getting the nod ahead of him in fixtures so far.

He will, however, start in a Chiefs pack that shows three changes, packing down alongside prop Will Goodrick-Clarke and flanker André Goedhals, who got his first taste of English rugby coming off the bench in last weekend’s 35-19 loss at home to Bath.

In the back division, Charlie Poynton is set to debut on the wing, while Sam Harris gets the nod over Will Haydon-Wood at full-back.

On the bench, there is a first inclusion in the senior squad for full-back Will McIntosh, who was one of four Chiefs Academy players to tour with England Under-18s over the summer.

Director of rugby Rob Baxter said McIntosh had earned his opportunity through consistently positive performances for the Academy.

“Will has been one of the guys who has been continually getting very positive feedback from the academy coaches, which is then sent back to the senior coaching group here,” he said.

“Looking at the games he’s played and the bits of training he’s done here with us, he’s looked good. We felt it was the exact right time to test him. It’s a tough place to go for a debut but conditions look fair and he’s a confident young guy. He’s got great qualities and trained very well this week, so we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes.”

On the unpredictable nature of the PREM Rugby Cup, Baxter added: “It’s always difficult in the PREM Cup to know what to expect, and I think that’s what changes games so much. For example, you don’t know who will be coming up against your lineout calls or against your attacking and defensive sets, so it’s important that we focus on ourselves.”

Chiefs: S Harris, P Brown-Bampoe, N Lilley, Z Wimbush, C Poynton; B Coen, S Wolstenhome (c); W Goodrick-Clarke, J Dweba, E Painter; L Pearson, O Beckerleg; A Goedhals, F Worley Brady, C Tuipulotu. Replacements: M Norey, A McArthur, J Roots, O Nkwocha, T Cairns, O Batson, W McIntosh