GLENN Delaney was delighted to see his skipper, Craig Hammond, back in his old rampaging form at Meadow Lane on Sunday.

The Nottingham captain has been struggling with a groin strain in recent months but, after a couple of weeks rest, he bounced back to form and scored a try against Coventry.

"That's just what we wanted from Craig with the Exeter match coming up," said director of rugby Delaney.

"He's a good leader for us. He gets people going and he does an awful lot of work on the pitch."

Hammond was also happy enough with his own display and believes the Green and Whites can upset the formbook against Exeter at Meadow Lane on Sunday – and get their campaign away to a flying start in the Championship play-offs.

Since Nottingham's promotion to National Division One in 2004, they have only beaten Exeter Chiefs on two occasions.

But both victories came at Meadow Lane and Hammond believes home advantage could be crucial as they bid to topple the team who are clear favourites to top Pool B and storm through to the semi-finals.

The inspirational New Zealander said: "We took a 42-11 drubbing at home to Exeter in the league but we had to take that game to Welford Road because Meadow Lane was not available.

"I didn't play that day because I'd turned out for Leicester Tigers the previous evening against South Africa, and believe me, it was really difficult to sit in the stands and see us taken apart.

"But I'm sure it will be very different on Sunday, when we genuinely have home advantage. Hopefully, we will have a big crowd urging us on and that will make a massive difference.

"Although we haven't managed to beat Exeter for two years, I honestly think we can cause an upset on Sunday. It's our turn."

Nottingham also suffered a 42-12 defeat in the return League fixture at Exeter but Hammond insists that will count for nothing this weekend.

He added: "We were in the middle of a very busy schedule at the time and had to ask a number of our younger guys to step up for that game.

"Exeter haven't really seen what we've got as yet, and if everything goes to plan we will have a few surprises for them.

"They're a strong side so it would be the perfect start to our campaign to take one from Exeter. It would really set us up for the remaining games."