Exeter Chiefs will go into Saturday's Gallagher Premiership final with their most dangerous attacking weapon restored. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has been declared fit to face Northampton Saints at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, barely a fortnight after surgery on a facial fracture suffered in the win over Leicester.
The England wing had been expected to miss the rest of the season, but his recovery accelerated enough for him to complete a full week of training. England's medical staff raised no objection to his return, with the final call left to the player once the assessments were done.
"Manny has been declared fit," Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said. "He's had a full training week and we'll make that call probably by the end of day today."
Baxter left little doubt about what the 23-year-old's availability means for a side chasing the title. "Without doubt. He's an international quality player," he added. "The more players you have fit and available at this stage of the season who have played in big games and you know can have big influences on games, that can only be a very positive thing for us."
Feyi-Waboso is not the only returnee. Ethan Roots is back in contention after clearing head injury protocols and Campbell Ridl is available again following a knee problem — a timely treble for a club few expected to reach the showpiece. Exeter finished ninth last season and were not widely tipped this year, yet booked their place with a dramatic 27-26 comeback at Bath in the semi-final, No.8 Greg Fisilau producing 29 tackles, 15 carries and a try.
Northampton arrive as favourites on the back of their attacking firepower, having beaten Leicester 45-31 to reach the final. Wing Tommy Freeman, a winner here last year, insisted the changed Saints squad has not lost its identity.
"There's a lot of difference in terms of players and numbers and age but I wouldn't say it was too dissimilar on what we do," Freeman told BBC Radio Northampton. "The DNA is the same, what we do is the same — everyone knows the plan so it's just about going and doing it."
Freeman, who has played in a Champions Cup final and last year's domestic decider, is determined not to over-think the occasion. "There is nothing different," he said of the build-up.
One of the final's juiciest sub-plots is the back-row duel between Fisilau and Northampton's Henry Pollock, with the pair also competing for England's No.8 jersey. Both were named in Steve Borthwick's Six Nations squad, though the 22-year-old Fisilau is still uncapped. Pollock, who racked up 23 carries against Leicester, offered nothing but admiration for his rival.
"Being in camp with Greg, he is an absolute legend of a bloke and an amazing player. He played so well when they won down there at Bath last week," Pollock said. "He's an absolute animal at the minute and he's playing out of his skin."
For Pollock, the final is the stage he wants. "This is where you want to be. You want to be challenging yourself against the best players, and this is one of those games where we are going to be up against some of the best players in this league. We're very excited."
