Table-toppers Bristol Bears are looking to extend their unbeaten run at Ashton Gate on Sunday when they welcome newly promoted London Irish to Ashton Gate, in Round Five of the Gallagher Premiership.
Bristol are unbeaten in their last seven home games in all competitions since Worcester Warriors beat them 25-27 in the league on March 23.
Bears director of rugby Lam confirmed he will have 91 percent of his squad available to pick from as several players look close to returns from the sidelines, including star Samoan winger Alapati Leiua.
Leiua is set to return from a knee injury he suffered in a substitute appearance on the opening day of the Premiership season in the 43-16 win over Bath Rugby, while number eight Nathan Hughes and full back Charles Piutau could return to the side.
Hughes is recovering from surgery on a dislocated finger in the 17-20 victory over Exeter Chiefs while Piutau picked up a minor ankle injury in the 59-21 win over Zebre in the opening game of European Challenge Cup.
Speaking about his squad, Lam said: “There’re a few boys back which is good, we’re at 91% availability. Again, our medical staff are unreal.
“I look at other teams and guys are dropping but we’re in great condition.
“We’ve got good prehab and rehab so we’ve got really good availability.”
Bristol, who currently lead the division on points difference over , can take confidence from an impressive performance last time out. The Bears cruised to a dominant 0-36 win over Brive away in France in the Challenge Cup, and Lam was in admiration of his players: “I just found out that we’re only the second team to nil a team in the European competition.
“That’s outstanding, and again look at the team that we put out. All of those boys who did the job have come through adversity and were outstanding. “We didn’t have Nathan [Hughes], Siale [Piutau], Charles [Piutau], Chris Vui etc - it emphasises that it’s not about the individual, although the individuals are great, but it’s really about the system and the team.”
London Irish won the Championship last season, losing just twice all year and currently sit sixth in the Premiership with two wins and two losses from their opening four games this season.
Lam recognises the danger of the newly promoted side and is quick to ensure his side are focused on the task at hand: “London Irish are not surprising us at all, some other teams might be in shock, but I know the coaches.
“I know Les Kiss really well, I know Brad Davies and I know Declan [Kidney], they’re all quality coaches and the number one thing about these guys is that when you watch them you can see the difference from when they were here last time, with a different coaching regime.
“They are experienced operators who are good at defence and good at breakdown so if you don’t come with physicality in your system, your system will die, and we knew that when we played them in the Prem Cup.”
Bristol beat Irish 44-27 in October after tries from Mat Protheroe (2) Harry Thacker, Nathan Hughes and Andy Uren, while fly-half Tiff Eden finished with 19 points and 100 percent kicking record at Ashton Gate that day.
Lam said: “We understand the challenge, we are not fooled by who they are, and we’ve got unbelievable respect.
“I look at it as a London Irish coached by Les Kiss, Brad Davies and Declan Kidney, that’s the difference.”
