Baxter confirms Vintcent out for Leicester trip as Ikitau and Woodburn return to fitness

Ross Vintcent will sit out Exeter Chiefs’ crunch Gallagher Premiership visit to Leicester Tigers on Sunday, head coach Rob Baxter has confirmed, with an ankle injury sustained in last weekend’s defeat to Harlequins at Twickenham ruling the Italy international flanker out of the Welford Road trip.

The Chiefs head into the fixture in fourth place, two points clear of fifth-placed Saracens with two rounds of the regular season remaining. A positive result against Leicester would strengthen their grip on a play-off berth ahead of Saracens’ visit to Sandy Park in the final round.

“Ross Vintcent’s ankle injury is slightly annoying and is probably the worst of those injuries. It’s not a bad one. It might take him a little time to settle. It’s just a bit of a twist with some ligament damage, but it doesn’t require an operation,” Baxter said.

On a more encouraging note, Wallabies centre Len Ikitau has come through a similar ankle knock sustained against Harlequins and is in full training. Winger Ollie Woodburn, who played through a dead leg and an early bang at Twickenham, is also expected to be available.

Back row Greg Fisilau, absent since straining knee ligaments in the defeat at Gloucester in April, is close to returning to full training, giving Baxter a decision to make later in the week. Wales international Christ Tshiunza, who has covered the back row across the last three matches, has been cleared after picking up a knock against Harlequins and is in strong form according to his head coach.

“Chris is in really good form. I thought some of his cover defence, in particular against Quins, was fantastic — he was the guy who got back and made a couple of try-saving tackles for us,” Baxter said. “He’s come into the side when we picked up a few injuries in the back row and I think he’s performed very, very well, very admirably.”

Tshiunza is set to leave Exeter for Sale Sharks at the end of the season. Centre Henry Slade is away with the England squad this week, having made only one appearance for the national side this season — a try-scoring outing in the Quilter Nations Series against Argentina.