Wasps v Bristol: Teams

Junior Fatialofa is in line for his first start since late October as Bristol travel to Wasps for their latest Guinness Premiership outing on Sunday.

A series of niggling injuries have disrupted the centre's first season at Bristol and Fatialofa has to look back to the EDF Energy Cup tie at the Scarlets for his last appearance.

However, with Luke Eves on England Under-20 duty and Nathan Brew suffering an injury in training this week, it's a big opportunity for the Samoan who is now fit, fresh and raring to go.

There are also recalls for Mark Irish, Scott Linklater, who has recovered from an ankle injury, and Lee Robinson on the right wing.

Adams Park is not a particularly happy hunting ground for Bristol in recent times although the team were desperately unlucky to go down to a 32-30 defeat last February courtesy of Dave Walder's conversion with the last kick of the match.

On the up

When he addressed the media this week, head coach Paul Hull stressed that things are on the up at Bristol despite them propping up the Guinness Premiership table.

"We've been turning the corner the past couple of weeks and last weekend's result against Leicester was disappointing when we'd got ourselves into a position to win the game," he said.

"We're just building on the performances of the past few weeks. It's going to be a tough test against London Wasps at Adams Park. They're not having the season they'd have hoped for but they'll fight to the end and make it very difficult for us.

"We've still got plenty to play for and we'll fight right to the very end. We're sticking together, we're tight as a group, there's good enthusiasm and motivation in the squad. It's a team sport and everyone is contributing."

Wasps have won their last seven games at Adams Park in all competitions, and Bristol have not managed to win on the road for a year.

Bristol have managed just a single victory over Wasps in their last eleven encounters in all competitions, and just one win ever on Wasps soil, coming back in 200 at Loftus Road.

One change

Meanwhile, Wasps have made just one change to their starting line up: Pat Barnard comes back into the side at tight head following recovery from a large effusion of the knee which ruled him out of the Gloucester game last Saturday.

The return of Barnard to the front row sees Tim Payne move to loose head and Charlie Beech, who made his first Guinness Premiership start at Kingsholm, takes a place on the bench.

Forced from the field at Kingsholm after sustaining a severe haematoma to his quadricep, Josh Lewsey has made great progress working with Wasps physio and rehab team this week and has been deemed fit and selected for Sunday's must-win game.

Tom Rees is named in the side but Wasps are still waiting on confirmation from the RFU if he will be returned to the club. In the event that he stays with England, Dan Leo will start in his place with Hugo Ellis coming onto the bench.

Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen, 14 Lachlan Mitchell, 13 Dominic Waldouck, 12 Josh Lewsey, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 John Hart, 7 Tom Rees/Dan Leo, 6 Serge Betsen (C), 5 George Skivington, 4 Richard Birkett, 3 Pat Barnard, 2 Rob Webber , 1 Tim Payne.

Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Charlie Beech, 18 Marty Veale , 19 Dan Leo/Hugo Ellis, 20 Mark Robinson, 21 Dave Walder 22 Mark Odejobi.

Bristol: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Lee Robinson, 13 Neil Brew, 12 Junior Fatialofa, 11 David Lemi, 10 Ed Barnes, 9 Shaun Perry, 8 Alfie To'oala, 7 Joe El Abd (capt), 6 Redford Pennycook, 5 Robert Sidoli, 4 Roy Winters, 3 Darren Crompton, 2 Scott Linklater, 1 Mark Irish.

Replacements: 16 Ollie Hayes, 17 Wayne Thompson, 18 Mariano Sambucetti, 19 Dan Ward-Smith, 20 Haydn Thomas, 21 Greg Barden, 22 Tom Arscott.