Wasps' Simpson returns for Exeter clash
There is also a welcome return for scrumhalf Joe Simpson, who is named on the bench and is set to make his first appearance for Wasps since sustaining an ankle injury during Wasps’ final European pool round match against Leinster.
In the pack, Carlo Festuccia comes in at hooker and Kearnan Myall lines up alongside Joe Launchbury to form Wasps’ second-row partnership.
Ahead of the European Cup tie, Dai Young said: “We’re all looking forward to Saturday’s quarter-final and a fantastic European occasion for everyone associated with Wasps and Exeter Chiefs.
“This is where we as coaches, players and supporters want to be, competing against the best teams in Europe and challenging for honours.
“It has been a real squad effort to reach the last eight and we are proud to have come through such a tough pool to earn a home quarter-final, but we obviously don’t want it to end here.
“Everything now comes down to 80 minutes of rugby this Saturday. This is knockout rugby at the highest level that any player can compete at with their club.
“Exeter have been excellent all season. They put almost 20 points on us when we met at the Ricoh Arena in the Premiership earlier this season, so they certainly had the measure of us that day. We’d like to think we’ve improved since then, but the proof will be in the pudding this Saturday and we know the challenge will be just as great.”
Wasps: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Frank Halai, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 George Smith, 6 James Haskell (captain), 5 Kearnan Myall, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Carlo Festuccia , 1 Matt Mullan
Replacements: 16 Ashley Johnson, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Bradley Davies, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Rob Miller
Date: Saturday, April 9
Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry
Kick-off: 15.15 (14.15 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), Tual Trainini (France)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
