The England prop David Wilson, who has been out of action for three months following surgery on his neck, makes a timely return for Bath at Harlequins on Friday night as the West Country club looks to seal a play-off place for the first time since 2010.
Victory would guarantee Bath a place in the top four, but they have not won at The Stoop in the Premiership since 2004 and defeat at the ground in the final match of the regular season a year ago cost them fourth place.
Wilson, whose last appearance was against Glasgow in the Champions Cup at the end of January, goes straight into the starting lineup with Bath’s other international tighthead, Henry Thomas, still two weeks away from a return.
“Dave has done some live scrums this week and it is absolutely massive to have him back,” said Neil Hatley, Bath’s forwards coach. “He brings a real focus to our set piece and when you get big players returning from injuries it serves as a real confidence boost for everyone else and you give yourself a real chance.”
Quins have missed out on the play-offs for the first time since 2011 and have only the slenderest mathematical chance of qualifying for the Champions Cup by finishing in the top six. The match is still a sellout with the former England wing Ugo Monye and the second-row George Robson making their last home appearances for the club.
“They are a good side and we are going to a place where we fell a few points short last year,” said Hatley. “Their league position belies their capability and we are going to have to perform well to give ourselves a chance.”
Elsewhere, Worcester take a five-point lead into the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final against London Scottish at Sixways on Friday night without their leading two scrum-halves. Charlie Mulchrone is injured and Jonny Arr is serving a three-week suspension for a dangerous tackle, and both would miss the two-legged final should their side progress. The 17-year-old schoolboy Jamie Shillcock has been registered to cover the position from the bench.
