Bath v Leicester: Teams
Bath coach Steve Meehan believes a week's break from action will refresh his side ahead of their play-off push.
By Tony Curtis - Twitter: @SkySportsTC
Last Updated: 25/03/11 4:28pm
Bath coach Steve Meehan believes a week's break from action will refresh his side ahead of their play-off push.
Bath entertain Leicester at The Rec on Saturday and Meehan believes the international break will work in his side's favour.
"It was a good time to have a break as we had four very tough games in quick succession, so there were tired and hurting bodies that had given their all around, he said.
"This is the one that all the players want to be involved in. Games against Leicester are special games, with great rivalry between the two teams.
"They are the only two teams to have made the semi-finals every year the last three years running - obviously we've travelled to Welford Road for two, which is always a challenge, but it's spiced up the relationship, and we're looking forward to renewing acquaintances and challenging them again today."
Recharge
Leicester will be buoyed by the inclusion of England internationals Toby Flood, Ben Youngs, Dan Cole and Tom Croft.
The quartet played a key role in England winning the RBS Six Nations title and the Tigers will be hoping their return will help cement a place at the top of the table.
"We've had a couple of weeks without a club game during the last stages of the Six Nations but most of the guys have been able to recharge their batteries," said Cockerill.
"The internationals have returned, we've had a good week of working together again and we're focused on the run-in now, starting with Bath on Saturday.
"Louis Deacon is unavailable this week after returning from England duty with an Achilles injury, and Martin Castrogiovanni and George Skivington are also injured, but we've got some bodies back during the break and it's great to have some strength in depth throughout the squad again."
Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Matt Banahan, 13 Ben Williams, 12 Sam Vesty, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Simon Taylor, 7 Luke Watson (c), 6 Ben Skirving, 5 Danny Grewcock, 4 Stuart Hooper, 3 Duncan Bell, 2 Lee Mears, 1 David Flatman.
Replacements:16 Pieter Dixon, 17 Nathan Catt, 18 David Wilson, 19 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 20 Guy Mercer, 21 Mark McMillan, 22 Shontayne Hape, 23 Jack Cuthbert.
Leicester: 15 Scott Hamilton, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Craig Newby (c), 6 Tom Croft, 5 Ed Slater, 4 Steve Mafi, 3 Dan Cole, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Julian White, 19 Jordan Crane, 20 Ben Woods, 21 James Grindal, 22 Jeremy Staunton, 23 Matt Smith.