EXETER’S former Dragon Phil Dollman has declared a trip to Rodney Parade as the perfect preparation for the Chiefs bid to go one better in the Aviva Premiership.

The men from Devon make the trip to Newport on the back of friendly victories against the Scarlets and Ulster as they count down to a league opener against a Wasps side they beat in the play-off semi-finals last season.

Exeter head to Wales with a formidable XV featuring the likes of Henry Slade, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Julian Salvi, Thomas Waldrom and Ollie Devoto, plus plenty of firepower on the bench.

Utility back Dollman, who left Newport Gwent Dragons for Devon in 2009 after making 38 appearances, is relishing a final hit out.

"I think we've built it up quite nicely now and it will probably be a bit more of a normal match day build-up on Friday,” said the Caerphilly-born back to the Exeter Express and Echo.

"It's important to get that and get the feel of it and the feeling around the squad that we're ready to go into those big games, so that we know exactly what we're doing and we're on point in our preparation as we go forward."

"It's always good to go back to places you know quite well and I had some good years at the Dragons so there are some fond memories there,” he continued.

"It's another tough game and that's what we really want out of pre-season, which is kind of about finding your feet before you get into the main show of it, and we expect another tough, gritty game up in Newport.

"That's the kind of test you want before you move into the Premiership, as you want to be on your mettle from the word go.”

With Exeter now boasting an strong squad packed with internationals since their rapid rise in the Premiership, Dollman says everyone needs to catch the eye against the Dragons.

He said: "You get an opportunity daily in training and we try and impress there but, ultimately, when you're on the pitch is, that's where you're really going to make the biggest impressions.”

Exeter: P Dollman, O Woodburn, O Devoto, S Hill, I Whitten, H Slade, W Chudley, B Moon, L Cowan-Dickie, H Williams, M Lees, D Welch, D Armand (captain), J Salvi, T Waldrom. Replacements: J Yeandle, A Hepburn, G Holmes, G Parling, D Dennis, D Lewis, G Steenson, J Short, E Taione, M Low, T Francis, J Hill, K Horstmann, H Thomas, W Hooley, L Turner, M Bodilly.