Worcester v Bath: Teams

Tom Wood will make his first start since October when Worcester face Bath in the Guinness Premiership at Sixways Stadium on Saturday.

Wood has recovered from shoulder surgery and, after an appearance from the replacements bench last time out, he is now handed a starting spot by director of rugby Mike Ruddock.

Ruddock makes two changes to the team that faced Sale Sharks, with the other enforced as centre Hal Luscombe misses out with a calf injury. Loki Crichton is named at inside centre alongside Dale Rasmussen.

Vice captain Chris Latham has recovered from injury to return to the starting line-up and new loan signing Willie Walker is named on the replacements bench.

Meanwhile, Bath coach Steve Meehan realises Saturday's game is vital in his side's season, and sees no reason why they can't win.

"We have had a pretty arduous season," he said.

"We are back playing in the Heineken Cup now. The games are more difficult because there is greater expectation.

"There is more pressure and the opposition are better. The time is right now to be able to come back, focus on what is in front of us and push through the next three months and to see what finals we can be in.

"It will be good to be back and hopefully we will make a successful return to the Guinness Premiership. There is no reason why we can't win this weekend."

Worcester: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Dale Rasmussen, 12 Loki Crichton, 11 Marcel Garvey, 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 Ryan Powell, 8 Kai Horstmann, 7 Pat Sanderson (c), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Will Bowley, 4 Greg Rawlinson , 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Matt Mullan.
Replacements: 16 Darren Morris, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Craig Gillies, 19 Netani Talei, 20 Matt Powell, 21 Willie Walker, 22 Alex Grove.

Bath: 15 Joe Maddock, 14 Michael Stephenson, 13 Shontayne Hape, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Andrew Higgins, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Claassens (c), 8 Daniel Browne, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Andy Beattie, 5 Stuart Hooper, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Duncan Bell, 2 Pieter Dixon, 1 David Flatman.
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Aaron Jarvis, 18 Jonny Faamatuainu, 19 Chris Goodman, 20 Scott Bemand, 21 Shaun Berne, 22 Tom Cheeseman.