Mitch Lees has warned his Exeter Chiefs teammates that they cannot afford to underestimate his former club London Welsh in this weekend's Aviva Premiership meeting.

The Exiles look certain for the drop this term, having failed to win a single game and picking up just a solitary try bonus point.

Despite this, back-row forward Lees has refused to write off the threat of Welsh in what he believes will be a "huge game" against the Oxford-based outfit.

"London Welsh will be a huge game and they will be up for it," the 26-year-old is quoted as saying by the Western Morning News. "You just can't take them lightly, even if they are bottom of the table.

"I'm still friends with a lot of them and they tell me training is still a big, positive area for them and none of them have their heads down despite it being a tough year.

"They will have nothing to lose so will be really up for it. They probably only have a few more games left in the Premiership before they go down, so they will be up for it."

Exeter head into the match sitting in third place in the top-flight table, level on points with Saracens and Wasps either side of them.