Brad Shields and Alfie Barbeary among four Wasps players missing for Premiership final against Exeter

Four front-line Wasps forwards have been omitted from the match-day squad to face Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership final due to Covid-19 contact-tracing protocols.

Props Simon McIntyre and Kieran Brookes, back-rower Brad Shields and utility forward Alfie Barbeary have all been ruled out, becoming selection casualties of the coronavirus outbreak that swept through the club last week.

That has necessitated a number of changes to Lee Blackett’s line-up for what is a repeat of the 2017 domestic showpiece at Twickenham.

Malakai Fekitoa has also failed to recover from the groin injury he suffered in the 47-24 semi-final win over Bristol Bears earlier this month, so South Africa international Juan de Jongh starts at outside centre.

Wasps are still able to field a strong side, with Tom Willis joining his older brother Jack and Thomas Young in the back row. Joe Launchbury captains from lock next to Wales international Will Rowlands. Loosehead Tom West and tighthead Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen have the task of quelling Exeter’s fearsome scrum.

Elsewhere in the backline, scrum-half Dan Robson starts alongside Jacob Umaga with Jimmy Gopperth retaining his place at inside centre. The back three of Matteo Minozzi, Zach Kibirige and Josh Bassett is unchanged.

“If we are all being honest, it hasn’t been ideal preparation, but I have to give credit to the players because they have coped with it admirably,” Blackett said.

“A lot of credit must also go to the staff, especially team manager Dave Bassett, head of medical Ali James and club doctor Ralph Mitchell. The amount of work that they have put in behind the scenes to allow us to play in this game is phenomenal.

“It has been a difficult week in terms of all of that, but the one thing that we spoke about at the start of the season is being adaptable. Now the players will do everything they can to put in a performance on Saturday.

“We know it will be tough, Exeter deservedly finished top of the league this season, but we are confident with the form that we can take into the game.”

Exeter, the newly-crowned European champions, make four tweaks to the starting XV from their victory over Racing 92 last weekend.

Ollie Devoto comes in for Ian Whitten in midfield, Olly Woodburn replaces Tom O’Flaherty on the wing and Jannes Kirsten is preferred to Jacques Vermeulen at openside flanker.

Finally, Scotland locks Sam Skinner and Jonny Gray swap roles with the latter dropping to the bench.

“It’s been a tough season for all of us, but we’ve got to the end and it’s great that the teams that finished one and two in the table, then came through the semi-finals, are now contesting the final,” said Exeter director of rugby Baxter.

“Wasps have been smouldering for a few weeks, sitting there waiting, preparing, getting themselves ready for what in every sense is the biggest game of the season. “es, we had last week to contend with, but that’s gone now and it’s this weekend which is the most important thing. That’s what we have spoken to the players this week about.

“In every meeting we’ve said to them we have got to make sure we hit the pitch and match Wasps in every area because we know they are going to bring a physicality and an intensity that will be right up there.

“There is no point being in a final if you don’t match that intensity that the opposition bring.”