Leicester's Thomas Waldrom splits the Bath defence during their Premiership clash at Welford Road earlier this season © Getty Images

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Matches: Bath Rugby 6 - 37 Leicester Tigers

Teams: Bath Rugby | England | Leicester Tigers

Bath are hoping to return to the Aviva Premiership play-off mix with victory over leaders Leicester at The Rec on Saturday.

Steve Meehan's side powered into the play-off picture with five successive Premiership victories before defeat at the hands of west country rivals Gloucester halted their impressive run. However, with games in hand on the top four they remain very much in the running as the season continues to build to an exciting climax.

The Tigers are also looking to bounce back to winning ways after seeing their nine-game winning streak ended by Saracens last time out - a result that also jeopardised their hopes of a home draw in the play-off semi-finals. The Rec has not been a happy hunting ground of late with their last victory coming in 2006 but they are unbeaten on the road since defeat against Gloucester at Kingsholm back in October.

Leicester claimed a valuable victory when these two met earlier in the season but Bath got the better of their old rivals in the Anglo-Welsh Cup last month with both sides stripped of their international stars. With the Six Nations now done and dusted and with the title race hotting up this latest meeting is shaping up as a pivotal and enthralling encounter.

Bath - Player to Watch: Former Leicester back Sam Vesty has been tasked with filling the void left by the injured Olly Barkley at inside-centre, with his kicking game set to come under scrutiny.

Bath - Team News: Matt Banahan slots straight back into the starting line-up on the wing, with Ben Williams retaining the No.13 jersey. Vesty gets the nod at inside-centre ahead of England midfielder Shontayne Hape, who is named on the bench.

Leicester - Player to Watch: After declaring himself available for England, expect Tigers talisman Thomas Waldrom to deliver a big display.

Leicester - Team News: Toby Flood and Ben Youngs are immediately thrust back into action at halfback following their exertions with England, while flanker Tom Croft joins skipper Craig Newby and Waldrom in the back-row. Louis Deacon and Martin Castrogiovanni are injured, handing starts to Ed Slater and Steve Mafi in the second-row and England's Dan Cole at tight-head.

Key Battle: It's going to be a heavyweight battle between the back-rows, where Leicester's athletic trio will be out to get the better of a gritty Bath selection, where skipper Luke Watson starts at openside, with Ben Skirving at six and Simon Taylor at No.8.

Trivia: These two sides have failed to produce a try in their last two Premiership meetings - with fly-half Toby Flood booting the Tigers to a 15-6 victory in last year's play-off semi-finals and a 21-15 success at Welford Road earlier this season.

Stats: Leicester's Thomas Waldrom boasts a Premiership leading 157 carries this season.

Quote Unquote:

"Having last week off gave everyone the chance to recharge mentally, and also physically it was a good time to have a break as we had four very tough games in quick succession, so there were tired and hurting bodies that had given their all around. Everyone has come back nice and fresh and ready, and looking forward to the game." Bath head coach Steve Meehan

"We've had a couple of weeks without a club game during the last stages of the Six Nations but most of the guys have been able to recharge their batteries. The internationals have returned, we've had a good week of working together again and we're focused on the run-in now, starting with Bath on Saturday. - Leicester boss Richard Cockerill

Fantasy: Expect Leicester fly-half Flood to put his England woe behind him with a dazzling return to the Premiership stage? Then you may need to tweak your ESPNscrum Fantasy Rugby Game line-up?

Prediction: Both teams have wrongs to right after losses last time out and expect Leicester to underline their title credentials with another tough win over their fierce rivals.