Bath v Wasps: Teams

Bath and Wasps will both be eager to get back to winning ways when they clash at The Recreation Ground on Wednesday night.

A 23-16 defeat at the hands of play-off rivals Sale has left Bath looking over their shoulders in fourth spot in the table.

However, a bonus-point win in front of their own fans could lift them to the summit of the Guinness Premiership ahead of Saturday's visit of Harlequins.

Coach Steve Meehan has recalled his big guns in an attempt to take over top spot. Butch James returns at fly-half in place of Ryan Davis while Joe Maddock and Matt Banahan are back in the wing positions.

Mears returns

There are also changes in the pack, most notably England hooker Lee Mears starting in the front row alongside Duncan Bell and David Flatman.

Peter Short partners Australian Justin Harrison in the second row with Stuart Hooper dropping down to the bench.

Andy Beattie comes in at flanker, meaning Jonny Faamatuainu switches to number eight in place of Daniel Browne, who is not included in the matchday 22.

Bath have lost just once at home in league action this season and are looking to do the double over their opponents following a 27-23 triumph at Adams Park back in October.

While their hosts have their sights set on a top-four finish, Wasps will still believe they can qualify for next season's Heineken Cup.

A frustrating last-minute defeat at the hands of Saracens at Vicarage Road on Sunday means they are now 12 points adrift of sixth-placed Sale.

Rotation

The schedule has not been kind to them either, three games in seven days forcing the coaching duo of Ian McGeechan and Shaun Edwards to rotate their squad in a bid to keep them fresh.

Tom French returns from injury to start at loose head. Tim Payne is on the opposite side of the scrum as Pat Barnard is ruled out with a head injury.

To complete an all-new front row, Rob Webber takes a seat on the bench for this fixture to allow Joe Ward to come in at hooker.

Richard Birkett is in the second row while there is also a completely new-look back row - Joe Worsley returning to club colours alongside Serge Betsen, who will captain the side, and John Hart.

There is just one alteration in the backs - Lachlan Mitchell taking over from Josh Lewsey, who is not included in the squad, on the wing.

On the bench, academy duo Bob Baker and James Honeyben find themselves alongside England pair James Haskell and Tom Rees.

Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Joe Maddock, 13 Alex Crockett, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Butch James, 9 Scott Bemand, 8 Jonny Faamatuainu, 7 Michael Lipman (c), 6 Andy Beattie, 5 Peter Short, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Duncan Bell, 2 Lee Mears, 1 David Flatman.
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Aaron Jarvis, 18 Stuart Hooper, 19 James Scaysbrook, 20 Mike Baxter, 21 Shaun Berne, 22 Andrew Higgins.

Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen, 14 Tom Voyce, 13 Dominic Waldouck, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Lachlan Mitchell, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 John Hart, 7 Serge Betsen (c), 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Richard Birkett, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Tim Payne, 2 Joe Ward, 1 Tom French.
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Bob Baker, 18 George Skivington, 19 James Haskell, 20 James Honeyben, 21 Jeremy Staunton, 22 Tom Rees.