ALAN Tait will not be underestimating Exeter Chiefs as Newcastle Falcons attempt to earn their first Aviva Premiership points of the season this afternoon, claiming there is more to the Devon side than meets the eye.

Last season, Exeter were lauded for the size and effectiveness of their pack, and if last week's surprise victory over Leicester is anything to go by, Rob Baxter's side will be every bit as combative this term.

However, there were large periods of last weekend's game where Exeter out-performed their highly-rated opponents in the loose, and Tait insists it would be wrong to portray them as a one-trick side.

"A lot of people might think Exeter are just a big set of forwards, but I am a great admirer of their overall game and they are much more than that," said Tait.

"Their field coverage is excellent, and I don't think many people are fully coming to terms with just how good a side they are.

"They keep being labelled as a Championship team after their promotion a year ago, but they have bought really cleverly and Rob Baxter is a great coach.

"They are a formidable outfit, and they haven't really lost anybody to the World Cup. They have good ball players in amongst their physical guys, and down on their own patch it will be a real battle."

Newcastle met Exeter on five occasions last season, winning twice and losing three games, including both of their trips to Sandy Park.

Tait is expecting is another close encounter this afternoon, and has made two changes to the side that lost their opening-day fixture with Bath last weekend.

Tim Swinson replaces Andrew van der Heijden in the second row, with the New Zealander still nursing the rib injury that plagued him throughout pre-season.

Summer signing Jamie Helleur has suffered a hamstring strain, so James Fitzpatrick returns at inside centre to partner Luke Eves.

Ally Hogg is unavailable after the birth of his first child, so Glen Townson is recalled from Blaydon duty to take his place on the bench.

"We are carrying niggles and knocks, like most sides," said Tait. "That is often the way when the players are getting banged about for the first time in the season, but we still feel like we can field a pretty formidable pack and it is another chance for them to gel.

"Andrew has been nursing his ribs for a couple of weeks and Tim is bursting to get out there, so he has been given a start, but we have some big guys to bring on from the bench."