FORWARD Tom Dunn believes Bath have the perfect example to follow when they test their Aviva Premiership credentials against reigning champions Exeter Chiefs this weekend.

The Chiefs have steadily improved year on year since being promoted to the Premiership for the first time back in 2010, reaching the play-off final in each of the last two campaigns, including lifting the trophy back in May.

Exeter’s mantra has primarily been based on developing English talent and Dunn believes a similar philosophy is now being implemented under Todd Blackadder at the Rec – one which the hooker hopes will pay dividends.

“You have to admire what they have done. They have won the Premiership and that is what every team in the league wants to do,” said Dunn, who hails from Studley.

“The manner in which they have done it is really impressive too. They haven’t particularly gone out and bought big names, they have a lot of boys who work really hard for each other and we have got a lot of respect for that.

“That is something I think we have here and I think we can be the next ones to do it.

“It is going to be a tough game but for us, every game is about five points, it doesn’t matter who you are against or where you are playing.

“It is all about what we do. We work on getting better every week and hopefully we will be good enough to win at the weekend.”

Bath currently sit third in the Premiership table after nine rounds and Dunn, who formerly played at Chippenham before making the grade at the Rec, is thrilled to have been involved in every matchday squad so far.

“It is always awesome to play. I am just working on my own game, my own little bits and bobs to fix. I keep trying to improve myself and if everyone does that, then the team will improve together,” said Dunn.

Bath head to Sandy Park on Saturday (2pm) looking to make it three straight wins in the Premiership – and five in a row in all competitions – having beaten Harlequins 38-14 at home last weekend.

Paul Grant, Freddie Burns, Elliott Stooke and Matt Banahan all touched down in a rampant first half for the hosts, with Burns also booting 12 points from the tee and Josh Lewis adding six.

“We went into the game looking for a good start and hoping to make a big impression at the beginning and we felt like we did that,” said Dunn.

“It’s important to try to squeeze the life out of teams early on, especially when you are at home as we try to let the Rec get on top of the other team. It can be a difficult place to come when we are playing well.

“Quins haven’t had the best away record so maybe there were a few demons there that we could play on.”