Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter expects hooker Joseph Dweba to force his way back into his side soon.

The South African summer signing from Stormers has been the Chiefs’ first-choice this season, starting eight Prem games.

But the 30-year-old has featured just once since the end of January in the 66-14 Prem Rugby Cup final loss at Leicester.

Dweba was given an extended break over the Six Nations to go home to see his family, but his return was hit by travel disruption caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

“I think he’s been one of the factors in improving large parts of how we played over the season,” said Baxter.

“I think without doubt I think Joe knows he was a bit off the pace in the Prem Cup final.

“Ideally we would have picked him the week before and maybe given him a couple of games, but the travel disruption meant that obviously he came into that game after a period of not just disrupted playing time, but disrupted training time.

“But he’s back on it now, he’s working hard, doing lots of extras. He’s going to get sharp again and he’ll be back in the side relatively quickly.”