Exeter Chiefs must put on hold all thoughts of Heineken Cup glory after convincing back-to-back wins over Scarlets If all goes well Exeter could head into 2013 as a rock solid top-four side and contenders for the play-offs, but equally there is the potential for the Chiefs to drop out of the play-offs picture altogether. Coach Rob Baxter, as you might expect from the man who has guided his side so astutely in recent years, is on the case. "Europe has been a fantastic learning process for us and we have given everything, but now we have to put the Heineken Cup to bed for a while," says Baxter. These are very important Premiership matches coming up over the next couple of weeks and if we don't take care there could be a danger of letting the season fall flat a little bit. We are in a nice place, ticking along but we need to take a few more steps forward. Feeling no particular pressure in either the LV Cup or Heineken, Exeter have been looking to expand their style and at times on Saturday against Scarlets, especially in the first half, looked as complete a side as at any stage since their promotion from the Championship three years ago. During the last couple of months - partly through injuries and partly because the heavy fixture list left him little option - Baxter has also for the first time started to systematically rotate some of his key players and has been delighted with the growing strength-in-depth he has seen. The Chiefs are beginning to outnumber the Indians at Sandy Park these days, everybody is taking the lead. "Sometimes it's only when you are forced to make changes that you realise what depth you have got and as a club we are definitely starting to feel more comfortable making those changes," says Baxter. It's part of our development. It really started against Harlequins in the league back in October when we made four or five changes and we put in one of our best performances of the season. It brings a freshness and energy. Back row is one area of possible concern with Tom Johnson adding to their injury list in that department on Saturday after damaging his shoulder in the second half and although Exeter are blessed with many versatile locks who can double up in the back row, the long-term loss of Johnson would be a blow. Johnson will have a scan on the shoulder today. Exeter will certainly have to call on all their resources in the weeks ahead, with those three testing Premiership tussles being followed by their away game at Clermont and the visit of Leinster. Is is really only two years ago they were playing Rotherham, Birmingham and Solihull and Doncaster?