For the second time in three weeks, Exeter Chiefs are involved in a battle between two sides in the top four this weekend.
Fourth-placed Saracens are in the unusual position of heading to Sandy Park on Saturday as the side lower down the table.
Rob Baxter's Chiefs are second in the table after five wins in their last six league matches. They even went top for 22 hours last weekend following their 31-15 win against Wasps.
Head coach Baxter hopes the challenge of consolidating their place in the higher reaches of the table brings out the best in his players.
He said: "Everyone's worked very hard for this to be this big a fixture.
"In the past a lot of the fixtures between ourselves and Saracens have been us aiming to climb the table and Saracens aiming to cement their top-four spot. It's a little different now because we're up there fighting and we're both fighting for the same thing for the first time.
"It's pleasing for us to be in that position but what we've got to do is make sure it brings the best out of us. We've got to talk about that and see how we respond as a group."
The Chiefs' win against Wasps came after they had to make a late change to the starting XV, with Ian Whitten replacing an injured Sam Hill.
The centre is expected to be fit to challenge for a place this weekend, alongside fellow former Crediton youngster Jack Yeandle.
The squad has also been boosted by the return of Tonga duo Fetu'u Vainikolo and Elvis Taione, while Mitch Lees is very close to making a comeback.
However, Jack Nowell and Thomas Waldrom – who scored Exeter's three tries against Wasps – spent Monday and Tuesday training with England before being released back to their club.
Their teammates have been preparing for another challenge against Saracens, with Mark McCall's side posing different threats to Wasps.
However, Baxter said the key to the Chiefs' success this season is that they have been very consistent on getting their basics right to allow them to attack every side they have come up against.
"There are little changes you have to try to make every week but what we're learning all the time is that the really important thing is that you have to get the fundamental basis of your game right week in, week out," he said.
"That's probably where we had that bit more success this year. We've shown that touch more – and it only has to be a touch more season by season – consistency in our set-piece and defence.
"That's allowed our attacking game to flourish without us being under the pressure of losing the forward battle, which immediately puts you under territory pressure.
"If you concede some soft points you're also under pressure on the scoreboard and that damages what we want to do in attack.
"We work hard on our attacking game and we like to be a good attacking side, but on a week by week basis we've looked more solid in the set-piece and more solid defensively and that's allowed us to have good foundations in every game we play.
"In the games we have lost we have not lost by big scores, both (against Leicester and Newcastle in the league) were winnable.
"Our foundations are one of those things we have got to remember to keep working hard on every week. Yes we address the little things that come up, but we have to keep working on the things that make our game solid."
