Jonathan Joseph disappointed by Manu Tuilagi's England absence

Jonathan Joseph is disappointed Manu Tuilagi is out of England's plans, despite the centre's omission boosting his chances of a regular role in the side.

Last week England banned Tuilagi until next January after he was convicted at Leicester Magistrates Court of two counts of assaulting female police officers.

Bath centre Joseph could prove the chief beneficiary of Tuilagi's absence, with his claims to the No 13 shirt intensifying now the Leicester wrecking ball is out of the equation.

But former London Irish star Joseph set any personal gain aside to accept England consider it "a massive shame" to approach their home World Cup without one of their chief attacking weapons.

"I think it's a big loss for us," said Joseph. "Manu's a lovely guy and a great player, and what's happened is a massive shame. England unfortunately suffer for that.

"But there's great competition in the centres, it opens up another window for someone else. So I think it is upsetting and he'll be massively disappointed in what he's done.

"But in terms of England there is a lot of competition for the centre spot and a lot of boys will be putting their hands up."

Joseph has helped Bath into the Aviva Premiership play-offs for the first time in five years and he has set his sight on overall victory this season, something he says could mark the start of domestic dominance for the West Country side.

Bath are yet to win a title in the Premiership era, having been beaten in their two final appearances in 2001 and 2004, and it has been Leicester who have ruled the roost, making nine of the last 10 finals and winning four titles.

"I think if we were to win it could be the start of us maybe dominating," Joseph added. "I think it's a tricky one, Leicester have been a great side for a long time now, and Bath did fall off it a little bit in that time.

"I think this season we've proved to the majority that we're a great side. And if we get it right on the day - we put the Bath way onto teams - we can be very effective in what we do.

"This weekend's going to be a great match, they are going to come down and throw the kitchen sink at us.

"We've just got to stay composed and do what we've done week in, week out - just prepare well, the best we can, and hopefully feel good come Saturday.

"It's massively exciting that we could be on the edge of something big. This is the first semi-final I'll have been involved in, and this week there's a massive buzz around the club."