Bath v Leicester (Sat)

Aviva Premiership
Venue: Recreation Ground Date: Saturday 26 March Kick-off: 1630 GMT
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio Bristol, BBC Radio Leicester, live scores and updates on BBC Sport website and BBC Radio 5 Live

Bath are still without England captain Lewis Moody, who is still suffering with a knee injury, but Matt Banahan starts on the wing.

England centre Shontayne Hape and prop David Wilson are both named among the replacements for Steve Meehan’s side.

Leaders Leicester name three of the side that started for England against Ireland last Saturday.

Half-backs Toby Flood and Ben Youngs and prop Dan Cole all start, as does back-row replacement Tom Croft.

But lock Louis Deacon and prop Martin Castrogiovanni are sidelined by injury as the Tigers bid to stretch their two-point lead at the top.

Bath head coach Steve Meehan told BBC Points West:
“The two-week break has been a good thing for us as we got to the end of that block of Premiership games and there were some pretty weary and battered bodies about the place.

“They’ve won the Premiership for the last two years running and, between Bath and Leicester, we’re the only sides to be in the play-off semi-finals for the last three years so there is some history there.

“The matches have thrown up some magical bits of rugby so it’ll be a fantastic occasion here on Saturday and a hell of a collision I’m sure.”

Bath: Abendanon; Banahan, Williams, Vesty, Biggs; James, Claassens; Flatman, Mears, Bell; Hooper, Grewcock; Skirving, Watson, Taylor.
Replacements: Dixon, Catt, Wilson, Fernandez Lobbe, Mercer, McMillan, Hape, Cuthbert.

Leicester: Hamilton; Agulla, M Tuilagi, Allen, A Tuilagi; Flood, Youngs; Ayerza, Chuter, Cole; Mafi, Slater; Croft, Newby, Waldrom.
Replacements: Hawkins, Stankovich, White, Crane, Woods, Grindal, Staunton, Smith.