Ignoring something in the belief that it might go away is not usually the best tactic for dealing with thorny issues, but it might just work for Exeter Chiefs against Bath on Saturday (3.15pm).
Their failure to beat the side from the Rec either home or away in the top-flight has become something of an elephant on the pitch for head coach Rob Baxter and his squad. But, while he is quick to acknowledge its looming presence as Chiefs try once again to complete a full set of Premiership scalps, Baxter is unwilling to lend the statistic too much significance.
There is a great will to beat Bath, especially after their most recent trip there saw them on the wrong side of a 37-15 LV= Cup result. But rather than get mad about that, Baxter is just keen to get even as soon as possible.
He said: "People are going to wonder when we are going to beat them. It's not something I'm massively focused on to be honest. It's one of those things that will happen when it happens.
"I talk a lot about where I see us going as a club and I look at it very much as we'll get where we want to be one day. I've never said it has to happen this year or next because it isn't really about that. It's about getting better slowly and giving yourself the chance to finally get there one day.
"The Bath game will feel a little bit like that for us as well. We've beaten every other team in the Premiership and one day we'll beat them.
"What we have to do is prepare for the game in a way that gives us an opportunity, and when you do that, sometimes you take them."
If they do take their chance against Bath, they will have done something few teams have managed this season. Currently third in the Premiership and unbeaten in their past seven matches in all competitions, Chiefs have picked a tough moment to tackle their betes noires. But that does not deter Baxter, who knows they should have beaten them at least once already, when a last-gasp penalty try earned the visitors a 12-12 draw at Sandy Park last December.
He said: "The draw here last year was tough on us for a number of reasons. We controlled the game, were camped in the opposition 22, and probably forced a couple of penalty decisions that we didn't get on the night. Any of those would have put us ten points up with time running out, which would have been game over.
"As it was, Bath got to the other end of the pitch, forced a pressure situation and got the try for a draw.
"When you look back, you can't worry too much about there being some mythical thing there. It hasn't been about that. The games we've lost, they've played better than us."
After last Saturday's 16-9 defeat to leaders Saracens, Baxter has tinkered with his formation, offering a first league start of the season to Luke Arscott at full-back. His inclusion means Phil Dollman drops back into the midfield, where he will partner the recalled Jason Shoemark.
Up front, the only change sees Ben Moon come in at loosehead for Brett Sturgess, who drops to the bench.
Exeter Chiefs: Arscott; Nowell, Dollman, Shoemark, Jess; Steenson, Lewis; Moon, Yeandle, Tui; Mumm (capt), Welch; Johnson, White, Ewers. Replacements: Whitehead, Sturgess, Brown, Armand, Horstmann, Thomas, Slade, Whitten.
