Bath ready to give Chiefs the cold shoulder

Bath believe a spell in below-freezing temperatures will set them up nicely for Sunday's game Credit: ITV News West Country

Bath are undoubtedly enjoying their best season for years. They're flying high in the Premiership and on course for the end-of-season play-offs.

And this weekend they contest the semi-final of the LV Cup. Bath host Exeter at the Rec in a fixture they haven't lost since 1978.

It's a remarkable sporting record, which has been prolonged by three more victories over the Devonians just this season. Twice in the Premiership and once earlier in the LV Cup.

For this latest meeting, however, they're going to extreme lengths to prepare.

This isn't a space ship.

The players don woolly hats and gloves to protect them from the extreme temperatures they're about to experience Credit: ITV News West Country

Nor are the players climbing into the back of some sort of decontamination chamber with protective masks and gloves on. No, this is a human freezer.

It is a mobile cryotherapy unit to be exact - the only one in the country - and it's now being used by all the top rugby clubs.

The players step inside these two giant freezers and are subjected to temperatures as cold as minus 135 degrees Celsius.

It's supposed to aid physical recovery.

Going inside the human freezer is supposed to do wonders for physical recovery Credit: ITV News West Country

Bath are obviously doing something right because attacking, wining rugby appears to be back.

And they have their collective eyes set on extending that unbeaten run against Exeter, which now goes back 36 years.

That's as long as they're not still chilled to the bone come kick off, of course.

You can watch Matthias Kurth's full report on the icy preparations here: